Brian Stanley demands urgent wind farm guidelines
Brian Stanley criticised the continued use of 2006 wind energy guidelines and called for up-to-date rules to address very large turbines. He said delays leave communities without protections and questioned whether the pause benefits large investors.
Brian Stanley urged the government to prioritise new wind farm guidelines as committed in the programme for government. He said wind is important for clean energy but that guidance must be modernised to reflect much larger turbines now being proposed.
The speaker noted that the 2006 guidelines remain in force and quoted a departmental reply stating a focus review is under way. He criticised the lack of progress, saying the same response has been received for years and that the delay is unacceptable.
Residents near planned developments in South Leash, North Kilkenny and the north of Leash were cited as feeling powerless. Concerns raised include absence of community obligations, no proper setback distances from homes, and insufficient protection against shadow flicker and noise.
Brian Stanley said some people suspect delays are deliberate to allow large investors and corporations to install turbines before stronger guidelines are introduced. He warned that if guidance comes after installations, it may be too late to protect communities.
The minister with responsibility acknowledged work is ongoing and told deputies that updated guidelines will be forthcoming in the coming months. The minister also said there will be opportunities for input into the final draft and for deputies to be kept informed, noting links to the new Planning and Development Act and the need for updated noise information.
Call for updated wind farm guidelines
Brian Stanley urged the government to prioritise new wind farm guidelines as committed in the programme for government. He said wind is important for clean energy but that guidance must be modernised to reflect much larger turbines now being proposed.
Current status of guidelines
The speaker noted that the 2006 guidelines remain in force and quoted a departmental reply stating a focus review is under way. He criticised the lack of progress, saying the same response has been received for years and that the delay is unacceptable.
Local concerns and planned turbine sites
Residents near planned developments in South Leash, North Kilkenny and the north of Leash were cited as feeling powerless. Concerns raised include absence of community obligations, no proper setback distances from homes, and insufficient protection against shadow flicker and noise.
Allegations of deliberate delay and investor advantage
Brian Stanley said some people suspect delays are deliberate to allow large investors and corporations to install turbines before stronger guidelines are introduced. He warned that if guidance comes after installations, it may be too late to protect communities.
Government response and next steps
The minister with responsibility acknowledged work is ongoing and told deputies that updated guidelines will be forthcoming in the coming months. The minister also said there will be opportunities for input into the final draft and for deputies to be kept informed, noting links to the new Planning and Development Act and the need for updated noise information.
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Transcript
There is a commitment in the programme for government to prioritise new wind farm guidelines. Wind is important and it is important to utilise it as part of the solution to move into cleaner energy. I got a PQ reply last week again on it, and the PQ reply from the Minister said that 2006 guidelines remain in force, I won't read it all, it said my department is currently undertaking a focus review of the 2006 wind energy guidelines, and they are working with the other department, the Department of Environment and Energy, they are engaging in all aspects of it. That is the same reply as I was getting 12 years ago here, and this isn't good enough, there is no movement on it, and why? Is it deliberate, because a lot of people are coming to the conclusion that this is deliberate to allow the large investors and large corporations to be able to put these in, and particularly in the Midlands, and then bring in guidelines after that, maybe weak guidelines, but both the door and the horse is gone. Meanwhile, and the Count Corley will attest to this, huge wind turbines are planned in South Leash and North Kilkenny without any proper guidelines, never mind regulations, and now also planned in the north of Leash as well, with no community obligations, with no proper setback distances from homes, with no protection against shadow of liquor and noise, and residents feel powerless, and they are very frustrated with this. Thank you Deputy Stanley. I conclude on this, every one of the last four governments have promised to do this. Who is putting the brakes on it? I have a bill before it at all, if you want to support that, if you want to bring your own guidelines, that is fine. But when will we finally have wind guidelines, up-to-date ones that are fit for purpose with these huge, almost 600-feet turbines? Thank you. I am a bit frustrated on this myself, because I find myself often asked this question, and I end up having to give the same answer. I have spoken to Minister John Cummins, who has responsibility for this, doing very good work on this, and I am very grateful to him for that. We do need to see these guidelines, and I have to be honest, when we see guidelines, as is the case, not everyone would be delighted with the guidelines, I am sure, but we still need to provide a degree of clarity as to what the planning landscape looks like from a guidelines point of view in terms of renewable energy. Deputy O'Callaghan raised this with me very recently in relation to our own constituency. Minister John Cummins tells me these will be forthcoming in the coming months. I will ask him to keep the House updated, I am sure he will be happy to engage with deputies with an interest in this issue. There has been a variety of reasons, the new Planning and Development Act and the likes, quite a bit of work to be done on noise information too, and there will be a chance for people to input into the final draft guidelines too, but I will ask Minister Cummins to write to you directly and to expedite it as quickly as possible.