Written answers

Thursday, 6 April 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Wind Energy Guidelines

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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12. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will address concerns that wind turbine farms are failing to adhere to minimum setback distances from dwelling houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13882/17]

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for new and acceptable guidelines on wind turbines. [17112/17]

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the scenarios examined for set back distances between wind turbines and residential homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13895/17]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 37 and 50 together.

The Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 do not provide for a mandatory minimum setback distance between wind turbines and residential dwellings.  However, in the context of, and in addition to, noise limits, they indicate an advisory minimum setback distance of 500m to protect residential dwellings in noise sensitive locations.

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

Since May 2016, taking account of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I have been liaising closely with my colleague, Minister Naughten, having regard to his responsibility for renewable energy policy, on the review of the 2006 Guidelines, with a view to bringing the review to a close and providing certainty on the matter to all stakeholders, including local authorities, the energy sector and the wider community. I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter in the coming weeks, outlining the proposed revisions to the Guidelines and the timelines for implementation of the various elements shortly.

It is important to mention that as part of the overall review, and having regard to a recent ECJ Judgement on the Belgian/Wallonian wind energy guidelines, it is intended to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the proposed revisions to the 2006 Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the SEA Directive. In light of the SEA requirement which will take approximately 9 months, it is likely that while the proposals for revisions to the Guidelines will be available shortly, the Guidelines will not be finalised and come into effect until the end of the year.

When finalised, revised Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála, must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.

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