Calls for pause on all wind energy developments ahead of Offaly meeting

Independent TD Carol Nolan has called for a pause on all wind energy developments until new guidelines are published.

She was speaking ahead of a planned protest by the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group that is due to take place outside of Offaly County Council later today.

Councillor Sean O'Brien has given a notice of motion for today's meeting asking that Offaly County Council, write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage asking that the new guidelines be finalised and forwarded to Local Authorities forthwith. Also that the Council seeks a meeting with the Department on the matter.

Meanwhile, Deputy Nolan states that ''the fact that the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of the review which has been ongoing 2016 is nothing short of farcical and indeed borderline contemptuous of communities who have clearly expressed the gross inadequacies of the current regulatory regime.''

''That is why I am calling for a halt to all wind energy and wind turbine developments until we have sight of the new Guidelines. It is simply not acceptable that turbine developments can still get the green light under a system that everyone accepts is not fit for purpose.''

READ NEXT: Green light for Tullamore housing development despite opposition

Deputy Nolan says she has raised the matter repeatedly and most recently with the Minister for the Environment, Darragh O’Brien when she ''asked him if he would provide information regarding reports on wind turbine noise. I also called on him to clarify his support for increased protections for persons adversely affected by wind turbine noise.''

She says that everything at Government level about wind and wind turbines appears to be shrouded in delay and an attitude of keeping communities at a distance. That is not acceptable for Lemanaghan, for Offaly or for anywhere else for that matter.''