Taoiseach agrees with Kildare TD's assessment on 'outdated' wind farm guidelines amid concerns

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stated that he agrees with Kildare South TD Fiona O'Loughlin's assessment that the guidelines for for the erection of wind farms is now outdated in Ireland, highlighting the problems faced in Kildare as a reason for a need to upgrade those guidelines.

The High Court is currently hearing a case taken up by Element Power against An Bord Pleanála in regards to a wind farm application in Kildare, and Deputy O'Loughlin has outlined how the presence of a thriving equine industry in the county means that proper guidelines need to be drawn up.

"This issue is of grave concern to the people I represent in Kildare and all over the country. People in Kildare are especially concerned because we have a strong equine industry. The previous Government committed to reviewing and updating the wind energy guidelines for planning five years ago."

The current guidelines date from 2006 are now obsolete as they do not take into account the concerns of communities. These concerns are in many areas such as noise, shadow flicker and distance from homes.  O' Loughlin asked when the new guidelines would  be published and if the government would impose a moratorium on all such applications while we await the updated guidelines?

Enda Kenny agreed with Deputy O' Loughlin "It is true that this has gone on for a very long time. Agreement could not be reached between two Ministers in a previous Government. I am very confident that agreement will be reached between the two Ministers involved in this case.I am assured by the Ministers involved that the position regarding guidelines for wind farms should be brought before the House in the next couple of weeks."