Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2025
234. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance provided to planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála to ensure wind turbine noise is properly managed to protect public health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54499/25]
View answer240. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 25 March 2025, if he is aware of the EPA’s Pro-Health SEA research (ref. 2022-HE-1171), published February 2025, which recommends early engagement with public health experts in Strategic Environmental Assessment (details supplied); if he will liaise with the Department of Health regarding the potential health impacts of wind turbines; and if this has not been done, the reason. [54548/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 240 together.
The possible affect from wind turbine noise is the principal potential health impact attributed to wind energy developments. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters.
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 as well as setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
My Department is working in conjunction with DCEE, in the context of its environmental noise policy remit, to finalise the guidance on the noise aspect of the review. As part of this work, 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. As part of their work, which is now substantially complete, the noise consultants have assessed the impact of human health from turbine noise having regard to international best practice and standards, including the current World Health Organisation (WHO) standards on noise.
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.
With regards to the strategic environmental assessment (SEA), in line with EU Directive requirements, an 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.
