Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
186. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in the past three months on wind farm guidelines; the stage the process is at; when the new guidelines will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17103/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the drafting of wind turbine guidelines that were promised in November; the progress has been made to date; when these guidelines will be published; when will they come in to force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14594/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 389 together.
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 under the new Planning and Development Act 2024. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
National Planning Statements replace Ministerial guidelines, often referred to as section 28 of the Act of 2000 and are subject to environmental screening and assessment and require approval by Government, such is the central importance of planning matters to delivery of objectives across a wide range of areas.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Environment, and Energy (DCEE) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the draft National Planning Statement, which is highly technical in nature. This work is now substantially complete. In addition to work on the noise aspects of the National Planning Statement, the evolving policy and technical context including the new Planning and Development Act 2024 and the revision of the National Planning Framework reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised National Planning Statement, once issued, is fit for purpose.
Ireland currently has over 5 GW of onshore wind generation with a target of 9 GW provided for in the Climate Action Plan and the National Planning Framework, by 2030. Meeting our national targets for wind energy is imperative to securing our energy security, both for delivery of critical public services and underpinning our economy. This will require further integrating renewable technologies in an appropriate manner and in full consultation with local communities.
Delivery of this National Planning Statement has been assigned to a dedicated unit which has been working in recent months on various regulatory and legislative aspects of this policy area, including matters such as noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII), repowering, community dividend, grid connections and landscape. This team is supported by technical expertise, both internal and where appropriate, external, in environmental law, environmental assessment; noise, planning policy, renewable energy and the ecological sciences.
The PO-led team is also working on a range of measures to progress the Government's ambitious targets regarding climate action, energy security and renewable energy infrastructure, including wind energy development and has also has responsibility for where Ireland's commitments and international obligations regarding climate and the environment interact with the planning system more generally.
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 updated draft Guidelines as part of the SEA process whereby all interested parties will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft National Planning Statement. A finalised National Planning Statement will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase and this in turn will be subject to approval of Government.
My Department is working towards concluding the finalisation of a draft National Planning Statement for Wind Energy 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.
