Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the intentions of Government to bring forward new guidelines to replace the 2006 guidelines on wind energy; and if further changes to the planning process are being considered in respect of the need to ensure that the views and concerns of local communities affected by large scale wind farms and super-sized turbines are heard, analysed and given the appropriate weight in terms of their consideration. [33244/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development 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.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Energy and 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 revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose.

In addition to this work, and in line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being carried out on the draft Guidelines as part of the review process. In this regard, my Department intends to undertake a public consultation on updated draft Guidelines as part of the SEA process whereby all interested parties will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft Guidelines. Finalised Guidelines will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase.

More generally, with regard to the planning process and ensuring that the views of communities concerning wind energy developments are heard and given appropriate consideration, I wish to highlight that public participation is a crucial element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, and the recently enacted Planning and Development Act 2024. As part of the process to review city and county development plans, it is open to members of the public to make an observation or submission on the draft development plan. The development plan sets out land use zoning objectives and outlines the types of potential development, including ancillary developments, which might be suitable for a particular area, and may include objectives for wind energy development. In addition, it is open to any member of the public to make an observation or submission on a planning application, including in relation to a proposed wind energy development, and the planning authority is statutorily obliged to consider such observation or submission before making a decision on the application.

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 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.