Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O’Hara, has described the lack of solar energy planning guidelines as open season for developers. Raising this issue in the Dáil last week, he gave examples of local projects including the planned Belleville Solar Project in Monivea-Abbeyknockmoy and the Ballymoneen Solar Project in Grange-Cregmore which is under construction with plans for expansion. O’Hara called on the Government to deliver solar planning guidelines as a matter of urgency.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy O’Hara said it is important for him to say at the outset that his constituents are not against renewable energy, that they fully understand the importance of energy security, but they want it to be done right.
“People have serious concerns around safety around health and wellbeing, the impact on their homes, property value, the local landscape and environment, will their children be able to build there in the future, what will the future of farming look like in the area, this is prime agricultural land that is being taken up.
“Where will all of this end? Will the developers keep expanding? There has been no clarity provided to people on these issues,” he aid.
“At the core of this problem is the legislative vacuum that the government continues to tolerate due to the lack of clear mandatory national guidelines on solar development. It is open season for these developers to come in to land these proposals right on top of homes, to change local communities beyond recognition with no real input from the people who actually live in those communities.
He said there is a need for guidelines that will protect communities and ensure appropriate land use, ensure safety, ensure proper setback distances, and real community consultation.
“Government needs to get a grip on this situation protect communities and get guidelines in place.”
In response Minister Emer Higgins said that the Department of Housing is undertaking a scoping exercise, which remains at an early stage, to identify the relevant factors for a national planning statement. The Department intends to undertake a public consultation on the draft statement before it is finalised.
