Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the Department last assessed the impact of wind turbine noise from operating wind farms; if the Minister will provide a copy of the report (to include noise modelling); if the Minister will provide a list, of all wind turbine noise reports received to, or commissioned, since 2014, including the date, title, consultancy (where applicable), and any other agencies involved, in tabular form, including reports commissioned by relevant bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Skillnet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8568/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The monitoring of wind turbine noise from operating wind farms is not a matter for which the Minister has responsibility and may be a matter for local authorities either pursuant to specific noise related conditions attached to individual planning permissions for any wind farm or potentially where noise nuisance complaints have been raised under section 107 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1992.

However, the appropriate methodology for the assessment of noise for wind farms under the planning system is currently being considered, including approaches to same informed by international practice, and will form part of the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines currently being undertaken by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This review will address a number of other key aspects including setback distance as well as shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend, and grid connection.

My Department will continue to assist, as required, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has responsibility for reviewing the Wind Energy Development Guidelines.