Public consultation opens on Minister’s call for Donegal windfarm restrictions to be lifted

A public consultation on a Draft Ministerial Direction as it relates to windfarm development in County Donegal has now opened.
Last month the minister advised the council that changes to the county development plan that imposed new strict restrictions on windfarm development were at odds with national guidelines.
The changes to the County Development plan created a set back distance ten times the tip height of windturbines from residential properties and other population centres.The changes also dezoned some river catchments to protect fresh water pearl mussels.
But the minister says that Donegal County Council in making the changes ignored or has not taken sufficient account of the submissions made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in May 2014.
He also states that the County Donegal Development Plan 2012-2018 is not in compliance with the requirements of some aspects of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The minister contends that the new additions to the county development plan must now be removed.
Written submissions or observations in respect of the draft Direction from the Minister may be made to the Council no later than 5.00pm on the 18th August 2014 and shall be taken into consideration by the Minister before he directs the Council on the matter.

See more at: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/planning/viewdevelopmentplans/noticeofdraftministerialdirection-inrelatio/#sthash.EYAdytVH.dpuf