Limerick parishes to gain from wind farms

Two west Limerick communities are to get £500,000 following Limerick County Council's granting of planning permission for the first wind farm in the county. The council has granted planning approval to Eirtricity to develop a 17-turbine wind farm with turbines more than 370 ft tall, subject to 16 conditions, in the parishes of Tournafulla and Templeglantine.

As part of the plan, Eirtricity is to contribute £25,000 a year to the two communities during the 20 years of the 26mw windfarm project. The £500,000 is equivalent to 1 per cent of the £50 million the project is expected to generate during its lifetime for the developers.

Ms Hanna Horgan of the Tournafulla Development Association yesterday said it would come as a great boost "because rural communities are trying to survive on very little income. The money will give a new lease of life to the community."

She said some of the money would go towards the local heritage centre, which is expected to be completed early next year. "We expect the money to be divided between all the organisations in the parish, including the GAA clubs and bodies like Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann."

A poll held by the association after planning was lodged last February found that 91 per cent of the local population was in favour of the plan. Six landowners will receive rental incomes during its 20-year lifespan. There were a number of local objectors, who have one month to appeal the council's decision to An Bord Pleanala which, even if unsuccessful, would delay the project for six months.

The council had expressed concern over plans to connect the wind farm to the electricity grid via an overhead power line, but the developers have agreed to lay wires underground over a 15 km route to connect to the local grid. It granted planning after noting that the county development plan would generally take a "positive approach" to wind-farm development subject to projects not detracting from environment resources.

It has refused two such applications in the past. Decisions are due on two more wind-farm proposals near Athea in west Limerick and Doon in the east of the county next month.