Anger in Mayo as Government votes to delay progress of Bill which would regulate wind farms
Following the Government’s vote to delay the second reading of the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2025, the Lacken Ballycastle Protection Group published a statement expressing concern that their community had been left “completely exposed”.
The group is made up of local residents who oppose the proposed Tirawely Wind Farm Development in North Mayo.
“The Wind Turbine Regulation Bill was our chance to secure basic, essential protections for rural families - proper setback distances, real noise controls, and updated guidelines that should have existed two decades ago,
“Instead, our community was left completely exposed,” they said.
The amendment to delay a second reading of the bill passed by 75 votes to 63. It was delayed by 12 months.
As a result, the current Wind Energy Development Guidelines, published in 2006, will remain in place for another year.
An updated version of the guidelines were published in 2019, but have yet to be placed on a statutory footing.
In May 2025, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said his department were “undertaking a focused review” of the 2006 guidelines.
The Lacken Ballycastle Protection Group’s statement highlighted that planning decisions will now continue without the protections they need, and said the current pace of wind farm development in Mayo makes these safeguards essential.
“This is exactly why updated regulations are critical. This is why this vote mattered, and this is why the actions of our TDs are simply unacceptable,” they said.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh and Aontú TD Paul Lawless voted against the amendment.
Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary, Fine Gael Minister of State Alan Dillon, and Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh, voted with their parties and in favour of the amendment to delay a second reading.
The Lackan Ballycastle statement continued: “Our community is facing an industrial-scale transformation of our landscape - and instead of standing with us, our TDs chose delay, silence and party loyalty.”
The Wind Turbine Regulation Bill aims to regulate wind turbines, set limits on the export of energy generated, protect nearby homes from noise and shadow flicker through minimum setback distances, and ensure access to public consultation.
Formally, it seeks to: “provide limits on exportation of product generated from turbines; provide for protection of nearby dwellings, allow for public consultative processes; and facilitate community ownership”.
The bill was first introduced to the Dáil in May by Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley and is currently at the second stage, where it will now remain until this time next year.
Currently, Mayo is home to 115 turbines across four wind farms. Planning permission was recently granted, subject to 10 conditions, for the Keerglen Windfarm, which will include eight turbines.
The proposed Tirawely Wind Farm was unanimously opposed by Mayo County Council, which raised concerns about the impact of 16 turbines on the Ceide Fields, Downpatrick Head, and the Wild Atlantic Way.
Council planners also found that the development does not align with Mayo’s Renewable Energy Strategy, and highlighted location issues, noting that only three turbines are planned to be built on lands deemed suitable for such a development.
The Tirawely Wind Farm application is now before An Coimisiún Pleanála, and a decision is expected by September 28, 2026.
Similarly, a development of 14 turbines at the Cooneal Windfarm in Ballymackeehola is being assessed by An Coimisiún Pleanála, with a decision due by March 5, 2026.
A further 22 turbines have been proposed for the Glenora Windfarm near Ballycastle, and 13 turbines for the Muningmore Windfarm near Erris.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.