There are no consolidated planning guidelines in place for all forms of renewable energy development at present.
Planning guidelines are in place for wind energy in the form of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 and these Guidelines are currently under review by my Department. 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.
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 the Guidelines, which is the main outstanding issue and 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. The setting of this target is a matter for DECC in the context of its climate and renewable energy policy remit and the Government Climate Action Plan, while also having regard to EU renewable energy and climate targets which Member States are required to comply with.
Further to this engagement, DECC appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments on the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DECC having regard to 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 development, including in relation to noise annoyance.
With regard to the protection of rural dwellers, in addition to the aforementioned key aspects of the review, the 2006 Guidelines provide guidance to assist planning authorities as part of their development plan process, to identify the most suitable locations for wind energy development, having regard to key environmental, landscape, technical and economic criteria and the need to balance this criteria in a manner consistent with proper planning and sustainable development.
The 2006 Guidelines also provide guidance for planning authorities regarding general considerations in the assessment of wind energy planning applications and identify, inter alia, landscape issues, visual impact of ancillary development and local environmental impacts - including noise and shadow flicker - as matters for consideration in this regard. Finally, the 2006 Guidelines provide guidance for planning authorities on the decommissioning and reinstatement of wind energy developments, including on the landscape impact of decommissioning. These issues are being further looked at in the context of the current review. More generally however, matters regarding recycling, end-of-life waste and the circular economy come under the remit of DECC.
As part of the review of the 2006 Guidelines, and in line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being carried out on the draft Guidelines. The SEA assesses the likely significant effects on the environment, including on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage (including architectural and archaeological heritage), landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors. As part of the SEA process, my Department intends to undertake a public consultation on the draft Guidelines before they are finalised whereby individuals, communities and organisations will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft Guidelines.
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 (the Planning Act) 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.
In accordance with section 28 of the Planning Act, there is no requirement for draft planning guidelines to be submitted to the Houses of Oireachtas and it is not my intention to bring the draft wind energy development guidelines to the Houses for debate in advance of being finalised.
