Minister for Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney has given a second extension to public consultation over Marine Institute plans for renewable energy test site in Galway Bay. A group of Galway West TDs, including junior minister Sean Kyne, sought the extension due to public concerns about th

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Padraig Dolan of The Meath Wind Information Group (MWIG), the community-based organisation which successfully opposed the first application, said that when members of the public started to ask probing questions, a signal seems to have been given to limit the number of people allowed in.

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The Supreme Court will consider a challenge against An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for an electricity-generating wind farm in Co Tipperary after ruling that the case raises issues of public importance.

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Mr Justice Bernard Barton ruled the permission must be quashed after finding that the process under which An Bord Pleanála had decided relevant issues concerning compliance with two European Directives - the Habitats Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive - did not comply with Irish law.

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In its decision, the board said it considered that a wind farm of the scale, extent and height proposed would visually dominate this populated rural area, would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, would interfere with the character of the landscape and would not be in accordance with the overall development objectives of the Meath County Development Plan.

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A planning application for wind turbines on a hill near Clonroche has led to concern that further wind farm developments will be built in the New Ross district.

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While Mr White insists Ireland has obligations to reduce its carbon emissions and must drive ahead with new turbine projects, Mr Kelly is under pressure to ensure communities can keep new windfarms at a distance from their properties.

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There are other dark clouds for wind energy. A High Court case on noise nuisance is due for a trial date in the new year. Seven families from the North Cork village of Banteer are suing the operator of a windfarm in their area, which the families claim has adversely affected their quality of life, principally through noise nuisance. The case will be closely observed. Other parties in Roscommon and Wexford, who claim to have been subjected to similar intrusions, are waiting in the wings.

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The company yesterday refused to comment on the nature of the threat against its staff or whether it would be returning to the site. Five wind turbines are planned for the site, according to an approved planning application.

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On Friday cranes were on the site removing plant machinery and the temporary structures belonging to Alexander. It’s understood that engineers had been on site since the start of September. ...no group has claimed responsibility for the threat.

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A Meath engineer has been granted leave to appeal the High Court rejection of his challenge last month to the decision-making process in relation to a huge wind farm planned for the area.

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Ecopower Developments project manager Philomena Kenealy said the company is “very disappointed” with the latest decision”, adding: “We consider it a very suitable site because of elevation and the separation distance, with the nearest turbine 884m from the nearest house.

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Achieving the target of generating 40 per cent of Ireland’s electricity by 2020 from renewable sources would require another 200 wind farms around the country, energy specialist Dr Anthony White has said.

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Consultation with a Co Meath community in relation to a wind farm development has been hopelessly inadequate and does not meet standards set down in European legislation, an oral planning hearing has been told.

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An engineer has lost his High Court challenge over a proposed wind farm near his home at Kells, in Co Meath.

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Waterford City and County Council has become the latest local authority to call on Environment Minister Alan Kelly to block the construction of wind farms until new national guidelines are introduced.

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Constant humming and flickering of wind turbines are devaluing homes and causing untold misery for people living in close proximity to them in the county. ...The motion called on the council to place a moratorium on the granting of any new wind farm projects. 

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Refusing the Cluddaun application yesterday, An Bord Pleanála specifically said it was “not satisfied that the developments as proposed would not have the potential to impact negatively on the surface and groundwater hydrology”. These concerns relate to the potential for peat slippage and changes in the flows of natural streams and rivers.

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A 48-turbine wind farm proposed for Co Mayo has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála. ...A decision on the larger Oweninny proposal is not expected until at least November.

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Permission had been sought to construct what would be the country's biggest wind farm in Co Mayo with 112 turbines. Plans by a number of State companies to erect more than 150 wind turbines in north Co Mayo have been dealt a serious blow by An Bord Pleanála.

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