Brian Stanley presses for long-delayed wind turbine guidelines
Brian Stanley challenged Ministers over the absence of up-to-date wind turbine guidelines and regulations, saying he has raised the issue in the House for 14 years and urging protection for affected communities. He noted a 2019 draft never progressed and has introduced the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025 to address setbacks, noise and shadow flicker.
Brian Stanley said wind energy must be utilised as part of the transition from fossil fuels but that there are no current, up-to-date guidelines or regulations for large turbines. He highlighted turbines being erected and planned across the South of the County, including in Leish, and insisted communities need protection where turbines are zoned in County Development Plans.
He called for proper setback distances and safeguards against noise and shadow flicker for local residents. Stanley emphasised that promises of guidelines have been repeatedly made by successive Ministers for Planning and Energy over the last 14 years, but have not been delivered.
The Minister apologised and said they could not provide a timeline for the publication of wind turbine guidelines, acknowledging that they are required and that further information would be provided later. The Minister also noted that at times wind supplies 40% of the State's energy and praised wind as part of the move away from fossil fuels.
Stanley reminded the House that draft guidelines were published in 2019 but never progressed beyond that stage. He said he has a Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025 before the Dáil and suggested the Government might support it to establish binding regulations.
The speech stressed that where turbines are zoned in County Development Plans, statutory protections should ensure appropriate siting and mitigation measures. The debate underlined tensions between national renewable energy goals and local community impacts on issues such as noise, shadow flicker and landscape change.
Key points raised
Brian Stanley said wind energy must be utilised as part of the transition from fossil fuels but that there are no current, up-to-date guidelines or regulations for large turbines. He highlighted turbines being erected and planned across the South of the County, including in Leish, and insisted communities need protection where turbines are zoned in County Development Plans.
Specific community protections sought
He called for proper setback distances and safeguards against noise and shadow flicker for local residents. Stanley emphasised that promises of guidelines have been repeatedly made by successive Ministers for Planning and Energy over the last 14 years, but have not been delivered.
Minister's reply in the debate
The Minister apologised and said they could not provide a timeline for the publication of wind turbine guidelines, acknowledging that they are required and that further information would be provided later. The Minister also noted that at times wind supplies 40% of the State's energy and praised wind as part of the move away from fossil fuels.
Legislative follow-up and past drafts
Stanley reminded the House that draft guidelines were published in 2019 but never progressed beyond that stage. He said he has a Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025 before the Dáil and suggested the Government might support it to establish binding regulations.
Local development planning concerns
The speech stressed that where turbines are zoned in County Development Plans, statutory protections should ensure appropriate siting and mitigation measures. The debate underlined tensions between national renewable energy goals and local community impacts on issues such as noise, shadow flicker and landscape change.
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Transcript
Thank you. I raised the issue of wind turbine regulations and guidelines. Minister, where are they? I am raising it in this House for the last 14 years. We need to utilise wind energy. It is very important that we do that as part of moving towards green energy. However, we do not have up-to-date guidelines, never mind regulations for large turbines. Every Minister for Planning and Energy has promised them over the last 14 years. Communities are highlighting this right throughout the country. In Leish, there are large turbines being erected, planned to be erected right across the South of the County. Massive turbines without up-to-date guidelines or regulations, and we need to protect communities in relation to putting in turbines where it is zoned for them in the County Development Plan, where people will have proper setback distances, and protection from noise and shadow flicker. My question is, when are we going to see the wind turbine guidelines? They are long promised. In 2019, you brought in draft ones, but they never went any further from that. I have a bill before the Dáil, perhaps the Government might support that. The wind turbine regulation bill 2025. I apologise, Deputy Stanley, I cannot answer your question. I cannot tell you when the wind guidelines will be available. However, I am aware from discussions with my colleagues that they are required. I cannot give you an answer. I do not have the answer. There is no point in making it up. We will come back to you and provide you with information. In terms of the guidelines, we cannot ignore the fact that at times 40% of our energy is being provided by wind. Wind is a great success and it is really part of the transfer from fossil fuel to more appropriate fuel that is what's at the forefront of wind energy. Thank you, Minister. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue.