Local councillor expresses concerns over solar farm regulations

A local councillor has called for more stringent regulations to be put in place by the government in relation to the consideration of planning permission for solar farms.

Cllr John Dolan (Fine Gael) brought a motion to a recent sitting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, requesting Westmeath County Council to writes on the matter to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Cllr Dolan said there is great need for the development of national guidelines for planning authorities when considering planning applications for solar farms, and that the agricultural productivity and quality of the land concerned should be 'a material consideration' in the assessment of such applications.

He said that any such solar farms should be constructed on the country's 'poorer lands', and pointed out the success of 'a grading system in the UK in relation to their guidelines relating to solar farm planning applications.

Coming from a farming background himself, Cllr Dolan said that in his opinion good and fertile agricultural land in Ireland is being wasted on solar farms. Councillors Tom Farrell and Frankie Keena both agreed on the matter, with the former saying it will be 'foolish' for the government to 'waste good land in this way'. It was agreed by all members to request the council to write to the Minister in the matter.