Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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858. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on wind energy guidelines; the date on which updated guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30278/25]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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871. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the documents proposing the review of the 2019 wind energy and development guidelines and the outcomes of the analysis to date, with all relevant working papers, will be published; the cost to date in developing these guidelines; if the process is near completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30917/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 858 and 871 together.

My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the existing 2006 Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.

As part of the review process, it has been determined that the Strategic Environmental Assessment process is applicable. SEA is a holistic and iterative process, ongoing in tandem with the review of the 2006 Guidelines, which will inform the preparation of the final Guidelines.

As part of the SEA process, my Department published Draft Revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines for public consultation in December 2019, accompanied by, inter alia, a draft SEA Environmental Report. Having regard to the iterative SEA process, my Department intends to undertake a further public consultation on updated draft Guidelines before they are finalised. An updated draft SEA Environmental Report, and all other relevant documentation and environmental reports, will be published as part of this public consultation. Finalised Guidelines will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the further public consultation phase. The final SEA Environmental Report will be published alongside the finalised Guidelines.

With regard to the ongoing review process generally, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the Guidelines, which is highly technical in nature. The two Departments have been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources.

Further to this engagement, DCEE, in the context of its environmental noise remit, appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is now substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DCEE, will make any further changes to the draft Guidelines which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy and climate targets, whilst having appropriate regard to the impacts of wind energy development, including in relation to noise annoyance.

The evolving policy and technical context including the new Planning and Development Act 2024, which was signed by the President on 17 October 2024, and the recent revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose.

With regard to the cost to date of developing the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, my Department has spent €31,860 on works relating to ongoing SEA process. Costs relating to the work on the noise aspects of the review are a matter for the DCEE.

My Department notes the commitment in the recently published Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to prioritise the publication of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, having regard to international best practice and standards.

In light of this commitment, my Department is working towards concluding the finalisation of review of the Guidelines as a matter of priority, having regard to the intended public consultation and the finalisation of associated reforms and reviews including the recent first revision of the NPF. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended or, subject to commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of the review.