Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017
499. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the research and investigations undertaken which led to the observation submitted by his Department in its role as a named external consultee advising the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on a foreshore lease planning application (details supplied) on Galway bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33189/17]
View answer500. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the submitted observation on a foreshore lease planning application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33190/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.
In March 2016 my Department was advised by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government that they had received a foreshore lease application from the Marine Institute for the testing of prototype wind, wave and tidal energy devices at the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site. My Department’s views on the application were requested.
The following observations were submitted to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government:
“In all locations where wind turbines are permitted it should be a condition that they meet the following lighting requirements:
1. Single turbines or turbines delineating corners of a wind farm should be illuminated by high intensity obstacle lights.
2. Obstruction lighting elsewhere in a wind farm will be of a pattern that will allow the hazard be identified and avoided by aircraft in flight.
3. Obstruction lights used should be incandescent or of a type visible to Night Vision Equipment. Obstruction lighting fitted to obstacles must emit light at the near Infra-Red (IR) range of electromagnetic spectrum specifically at or near 850 nanometres (nm) of wavelength. Light intensity to be of similar value to that emitted in the visible spectrum”.
In April 2016 the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government advised that a revised application had been submitted by the Marine Institute. On foot of further consultations, the above observations remained unchanged.
