The review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines (2006) began with the issuing of initial draft proposals for public consultation in December 2013. The current draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines were published for public consultation in December 2019. The review of these guidelines is ongoing and is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. Offshore wind farms are excluded from the provisions of the Planning & Development Act 2000.
Chapter 5 (Ground Conditions/Geology) of both the 2006 and the revised draft guidelines of 2019 indicates that the underlying geology is a critical factor in assessing proposed wind farm developments and that information on geology, landslides, geological Natural Heritage Area, or County Geoheritage Site, areas of significant mineral or aggregate potential, groundwater and any borrow-pits proposed must be submitted as part of a planning application.
The draft guidelines can be accessed here.