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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Transport scheme and wind guidelines

Summary

Deputy Troy asked when the new motorised transport scheme and wind energy guidelines would be published. The Minister said wind guidelines might go to Cabinet soon but would require an environmental impact assessment and consultation, making final agreement a matter of months; he also said he would seek details on the transport scheme.

We are waiting more than two years for the publication of the new motorised transport scheme and the new wind energy guidelines. Will the Minister update the House on when we might expect publication of both of those?

Comment on this

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, and I are working on the wind energy guidelines and may be in a position to bring something to Cabinet next week. If we do, a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union now requires that we undertake an environmental impact assessment of any new guidelines, which will involve some consultation early next year. It will, therefore, be a few months before new guidelines are settled and agreed because we are required to go through a process that had not been anticipated. However, getting a draft agreed that can then be subject to environmental impact assessment is a priority for us.

Comment on this

It has the same priority as it had for the last Government.

Comment on this

The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is involved in ongoing work on the first issued raised by Deputy Troy. I will try to get detail on it for Deputy Troy.

Comment on this

I apologise to the six other Deputies who I did not have time to call.

Comment on this