There are no government guidelines in place to deal with the level of wind farms being erected across county Mayo, and nationally.
That’s the strong view of Mayo Sinn Fein Deputy Rose Conway Walsh who says that the guidelines around renewable energy developments are now twenty years old, and no longer fit for purpose.
The deputy questions if government has learnt anything from what occurred in the development of Corrib Gas, off the North Mayo coast.
Communities, she insist, are not being shown the respect they deserve when renewable energy projects are being imposed in their areas.
At present there is widespread concern in the Mayo Abbey area of county Mayo over a proposal by Cunlaghfadda Green Energy Ltd to develop a wind energy project with seven wind turbines.
A public meeting was organised by concerned residents in Mayo Abbey Community Centre on Thursday night last and attracted a large attendance.
Concerns over proposed windfarm developments in the Geesala and Lacken  areas of north Mayo at present, similarly, are causing local concerns.
Large sections of Mayo are mapped out as potential areas for renewable energy developments under Mayo County Council’s Renewable Energy Strategy –including  the centre of the county , north Mayo but not West Mayo  -because of the potential impact on tourism .
Deputy Conway Walsh has attended the public meetings and spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley…
