Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has reviewed current legislation governing solar and wind farms in the west of Ireland; the improvements being considered to support renewable energy development in Roscommon–Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61473/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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In line with commitments in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, my Department is committed to the introduction of a National Planning Statement for solar energy developments and the conclusion of a review of the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

With regard to Solar Energy, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, and the possible timeframe for publication of said guidelines. Given this scoping process remains at an early stage, such guidelines, once completed, will issue as a National Planning Statement under the new Planning and Development Act 2024.

In the interim, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority, or An Coimisiún Pleanála on appeal.

With regards to Wind Energy, my Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines which will inform a new National Planning Statement on Wind Energy. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise as well as setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.

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 National Planning Statement, 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 National Planning Statement. This work is now substantially complete.

My Department, in conjunction with DCEE, will make any further changes to the draft National Planning Statement which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work to ensure that the finalised Statement, 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.

The evolving policy and technical context including the new Planning and Development Act 2024 and the recent revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised Statement, once issued, is 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 National Planning Statement as part of the review process. In this regard, my Department intends to undertake a public consultation on an updated draft Statement as part of the SEA process whereby all interested parties will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft Statement. A finalised National Planning Statement will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase.

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 the National Planning Statement as a matter of priority, having regard to the intended public consultation and the impact of associated reforms and reviews including the revision of the NPF.

The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of the review.