Wind energy guidelines
Deputy Crowe criticised outdated wind energy guidelines and asked why new rules have not been adopted, also mentioning planning enforcement. This was a separate policy complaint raised as part of the final bundle.
I hope the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, can take this question. The current wind energy guidelines date back to 2006. They are grossly outdated. A new set of guidelines, which was to be adopted on the eve of the 2020 election, is still on the desk of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. How long more will they be there? We need them operational. We have seen best and worse practice over the past two years without updated guidelines being there. Could I also say that some of the conditions attached to planning, for example at the Slieve Callan wind farm in County Clare, are not being enforced? I have a complaint with the local authority at present relating to noise pollution but the local authority does not seem to have the resources to enforce these conditions.