Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, 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 setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.

The aim of the review is to strike an appropriate balance between addressing the concerns of local communities, by ensuring that there is greater, and earlier, community engagement by wind energy developers whilst maintaining Ireland’s ability to deliver on its binding climate and renewable energy policy obligations.

It is envisaged that the revised Guidelines will provide greater consistency of approach in planning for onshore wind energy development and will provide certainty and clarity to the planning system, to the wind industry and to local communities.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of 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, DECC appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DECC in respect of its environmental noise remit, 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 developments on individuals and local communities, including in relation to the key aspects of the review.

With regard to the finalisation of the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a timeline of Q4 2024 for publication of the final updated Guidelines and my Department is working towards meeting this commitment. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended or, subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force pending the finalisation of the review.

My Department has not received a request for a meeting with the group referred to however, my Department would be happy to facilitate such a meeting and would ask that it make contact to arrange this.