Call for national planning guidelines for solar farms sparks heated debate amongst Meath county councillors

The need for national planning guidelines for solar energy development was highlighted at a meeting of Meath County Council last week.

Cllr Helen Meyer proposed the council call on the Minister to urgently publish and adopt the national planning statement for solar energy development and to introduce appropriate interim planning safeguards.

She said she was calling for the urgent publication and adoption of national planning guidelines and, importantly, the introduction of appropriate interim planning safeguards.

“Large-scale solar farms are being proposed and developed across County Meath, yet we are still awaiting the national planning framework promised in the Programme for Government,” she said.

“While I fully support the transition to renewable energy, it is essential that these developments are properly planned and managed, with due consideration given to agricultural land, biodiversity, landscape impacts, neighbouring communities and the cumulative effects of multiple developments in the same area.

“My concern is that planning applications continue to be assessed without the benefit of clear, specific national guidance on these issues.

“I would therefore ask that the Council's correspondence to the Minister specifically request: clear timeline for the publication and adoption of the national planning guidelines for solar energy and battery storage developments, the introduction of appropriate interim planning safeguards while those guidelines are being finalised and clarification of what guidance local authorities should apply when assessing large-scale solar developments in the meantime.

“We need renewable energy, but we also need a clear and consistent planning framework that protects our communities, agricultural resources and natural environment,” she said,

Cllr Alan Tobin disagreed saying the use of the word safeguard makes out there is something wrong.

“Nobody asked for safeguards when they put a diesel generator up in Duleek. Most of what is grown in this country food-wise is to feed cattle for steaks and export. To think that we are basically starving the Irish people because we are putting in solar farms is a joke. We are resting land, not creating carbon dioxide and we are creating biodiversity havens. There is no discharge going into rivers. “There is huge benefit to the air where there are solar farms. We have obligations through EU law to develop renewable energy,” he said.

Cllr Paddy Meade said “We hear the same drivel out of Alan from the Green Party every time he talks.” (Cllr Tobin is a Fine Gael councillor).

“There were multiple objections to the diesel burner in Duleek. There are concerns about solar farms. We see them in our communities in Rathkenny and Lobinstown. Legislation should be speeded up,” he said.

Cllr Michael Gallagher said councillors had been looking for guidelines for the last 20 years. “The best of farmland in Europe is being covered in solar farms. It leaves planners in an awkward position, because they have no guidelines to work with.”

- Supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme