Wind farm development guidelines
Deputy Brassil raises long-promised wind farm development guidelines, citing a Kerry community facing ten large turbines after local refusal. The Minister says the existing guidelines are not fit for purpose and expects the new ones to be finalised next month.
I welcome the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Environment, Deputy Naughten, as my question concerns the new guidelines on wind farm development that have been promised for a number of years. We are anxiously awaiting them. I am dealing with a situation in Kerry in which an entire community is facing the construction of ten turbines in excess of 65 m in height.
The project was refused by Kerry County Council and recommended for refusal by the inspector of An Bord Pleanála but the board of An Bord Pleanála subsequently granted the development. The community is left with no other option but a judicial review which will cost in the region of €25,000 to €50,000. They are coming up with that and pursuing it because they believe their rights are being infringed greatly. I support them in that.
Comment on this
Under the new procedures I will ask the appropriate Minister, Deputy Naughten, to respond to the questions.
Comment on this
When I was on the Deputy's side of the House, I raised this question as well. I am as anxious as anybody else to have these new guidelines put in place as the current guidelines are not fit for purpose. Along with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, my officials and I are actively engaged with this at the moment. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to present the new guidelines to the Government within six months, and we intend to do that. I hope we will have those finalised by next month.