Dáil debates
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority
Questions
Alternative Energy Projects
2. To ask the Minister
for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed new guidelines for
the siting of wind farms; if he will have regulations brought forward to
protect residents who are living in areas where it is proposed to locate
commercial turbines; and if he will ensure that any relevant Heads of Bill are
brought before the Joint Committee for Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht [44943/1
My Department is currently undertaking a targeted
review of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006 focusing on noise, proximity and
shadow flicker. In the interim, these comprehensive guidelines remain in place
to ensure that all proposed wind energy developments are subjected to careful
scrutiny by the relevant planning authority. They provide advice to planning
authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan and
development management processes. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a
consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of
suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning
applications for such developments.
The guidelines were issued under section 28 of
the Planning and Development Act 2000 which requires both planning authorities
and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their
functions. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft revised
guidelines is quarter 4 of 2013. These will – like all other new or revised
guidelines – go out for extensive public consultation for a period of six weeks
to two months to allow for publication of the final guidelines in 2014. All
interested parties, including the joint committee, are welcome to make written
submissions during this consultation period.
Once the consultation period is closed, the
submissions received on the draft guidelines will be considered and taken into
account in the final form of the guidelines. The final revised guidelines will
issue under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which again
will require both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to
them.
Does this answer the above question?
Yes!
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am
raising this matter because concerns about wind farms are growing across the
midlands. Even people who support wind energy are concerned about the approach
being taken on it. The Minister of State mentioned guidelines to which projects
must have regard when seeking planning permission. She knows, however, that
there are two weaknesses in that argument. The first is the word
"guidelines" which can be pulled to whatever length one wants, like
an elastic band. Second, the term "have regard to" can mean reading
the guidelines before shredding them. That term can mean anything and is not
descriptive. We do not have an adequate regime in place. We need to have a
moratorium on siting wind farms until proper guidelines are in place. The
Government should put such guidelines in place. The Minister for
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said recently that one company has
paused its projects for nine months. I am asking for them all to be paused
until we have regulations in place.
For quite some time, I have made it clear what
the timelines are concerning the guidelines.
I am aware of the concerns expressed. There is a
big difference between wind energy produced for export and wind energy which
will be used in the context of Ireland meeting its targets. In regard to the
wind energy produced for export, this cannot happen until agreement has been
reached between the two Governments and the policy framework being developed in
the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has been
completed. Such projects will also have to go through a rigorous planning
process. As such, no wind energy project will go ahead in the next nine months.
This cannot happen until all of the processes outlined have been completed.
Work on the policy framework being developed by the Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will be ongoing throughout next
year. People can be assured that any projects involving wind energy for export
will not be proceeding any time in the near future.
If projects involving wind energy for export are
being delayed because of policy development, should projects involving wind
energy for domestic use not also be delayed? We are talking in this regard
about huge developments. I ask that a maximum height be imposed in respect of
turbines, some of which will be 600 ft. or 185 m in height. I believe
restrictions in terms of maximum height should be imposed and that a minimum
setback should also be imposed. We need this type ofprotection for local
communities.
Has the Government undertaken a cost benefit
analysis of the wind energy industry? Mr. Colm McCarthy and other economists
have questioned the viability of such projects, in particular those being built
in the midlands, which in terms of the generation of electricity will be
enormous. Time does not permit me to quote what they have had to say but I can
share the quotations with the Minister of State if she wishes. Has the
Government undertaken a cost benefit analysis of the industry?
Extensive work in this regard is being done in
the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The Deputy
would need to table a parliamentary question to the Minister to get the detail
in that regard.
On height and so on, all these issues have a
bearing on noise, proximity and so on, which issues form part of what is being
considered in the review of the guidelines. As stated, a draft of the
guidelines will be published before the end of this year. Up to two months will
be provided for consultation on the draft guidelines. I hope the relevant
committee will find time to consider them. Assuming the draft guidelines are
published before the end of this year and taking into account the following two
months for consultation, the final guidelines will probably not be published
until the first quarter of next year.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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