Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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230. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will increase the 500 m setback distance proposed in the 2013 targeted revision to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 to be in line with current 2016 international best practices for wind turbine setback exemplified by the 10 times tip height rule in Bavaria and the 2 km policy in Poland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/16]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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267. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of the consultation process, concerning Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, and the revision that was embarked upon, which involved public consultation, if he is aware that best international practice has moved on significantly since November 2013, with the most recent example being the recommendation of a 2 km setback by the Polish National Institute of Public Health on 8 March 2016, and the judgment by the Constitutional Court of Bavaria on 9 March 2016, upholding the Bavarian State setback rule of ten times tip height that has been in force since 2014; if he will take steps to issue fresh draft guidelines that reflect best international practice, as enforced by colleague European countries, which would necessitate undertaking the public consultation process, and then enacting enabling legislation, in order that the public can have confidence that the issue has been dealt with, in a fair and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17307/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 267 together.

In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

These draft revisions proposed:

- the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,

- a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and

- the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

A public consultation process was also initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

As outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Governmentpublished last month, the Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines within 3 to 6 months. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and best international practice. My Department will continue to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to such guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.