1710. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact of the delay of the onshore wind energy guidelines; if he has discussed this delay with industry stakeholders and/or local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60058/26]

1711. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether the delay is having an adverse impact on local support for onshore wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter [60077/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1710 and 1711 together.

In line with commitments in the Programme for Government 2025, my Department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which holds policy responsibility for renewable energy matters, in respect of a National Planning Statement in relation to onshore wind energy development, following a review of the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

My Department is working closely with the DCEE as the Department with policy responsibility for this area of Government policy in order to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of this National Planning Statement, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, European obligations such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), and considerations such as noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.

Further to this my Department, in conjunction with DCEE, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the National Planning Statement, which is highly technical in nature. This work is now substantially complete. In the interim, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force. The timing of the issuing of National Planning Statements will be based on Government priorities.

I am satisfied that in the short to medium term, the existing and evolving planning system alongside the 2006 Guidelines, supported by Government policy more generally, provides a sufficiently robust policy and legislative framework to facilitate the rollout of renewable energy development in a sustainable manner and to assist with meeting our renewable electricity requirements while balancing the perspectives of local communities and allowing for public and stakeholder engagement.

Public participation is a crucial element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, and the Planning and Development Act 2024. From a spatial planning perspective, as part of the process to review city and county development plans, it is open to members of the public to make an observation or submission on the draft development plan. The development plan sets out land use zoning objectives and outlines the types of potential development, including ancillary developments, which might be suitable for a particular area, and may, if appropriate, include objectives for wind energy development.

In addition, it is open to any member of the public to make an observation or submission on a planning application, including in relation to wind energy developments, and the planning authority is statutorily obliged to consider such submissions before making a decision on the application. Persons who make submissions are also entitled to be notified of any significant further information provided to the planning authority by the applicant and to be notified of the authority’s decision on the application.

In line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment will be carried out on any draft National Planning Statement regarding wind energy development, with opportunity for consultation by the public and all stakeholders on the draft National Planning Statement.