Application for seven wind turbines in Leitrim expected early next year

A planning application for seven wind turbines in Leitrim will be lodged early next year, a meeting of Leitrim County Council has heard.

Ahead of this, Cllr Gary Prior raised concerns about whether the correct infrastructure is in place in the county before the turbines are installed, urging that issues be addressed now to avoid repercussions later.

He asked that the Council call on Minister Darragh O’Brien TD to urgently publish and implement the delayed updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines, reflecting modern turbine scale, environmental standards, robust community consultation, and the completion of necessary road, bridge, and access infrastructure upgrades prior to construction. He also called for clear community benefit measures to be included as part of every project.

Cllr Prior further requested that the Council place a pause on all new wind energy planning applications until the updated guidelines are in place, to ensure developments comply with new regulations.

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A company intends to build seven wind turbines in the Ballinamore Municipal District, with blades measuring 75 metres long and turbines standing 180 metres in height. Cllr Prior said he wanted to “get ahead of this,” seeking new guidelines before the application is lodged and raising concerns about the volume of construction lorries expected to travel along rural country roads.

His motion was seconded by Councillors Justin Warnock and Pádraig Fallon.

An official response explained that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is conducting a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. The review covers key issues such as noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligations/dividends, and grid connections.

Work on the noise aspect is now largely complete, and based on the findings, the draft 2019 Guidelines will be updated to ensure the final version aligns with renewable energy and climate targets while managing issues such as noise pollution.

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In the meantime, the 2006 Guidelines remain in force until the new version is finalised. Leitrim County Council also cannot pause any type of planning application, as it must process all validated applications within statutory timeframes.