Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the level of engagement he has had regarding publication of new wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27913/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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-time 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 initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received over 7,500 submissions from organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

As outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, this Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelineswithin the first six months of Government. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and by best international practice. My Department is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

The revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, 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.