Wind farms in Co Kerry are to be restricted largely to non-scenic, non-tourist areas, with over half the county designated a "no-go area" .
A new draft plan before the public in Co Kerry identifies wind energy as highly desirable on economic and environmental grounds, even where visually obtrusive. However, in areas which depend on tourism a precautionary approach has been taken and wind farms largely ruled out.
Almost the whole of the south of the county and north-west coastal areas from Dingle to Ballyheigue and around Ballybunion are off limits because of "ecological, historic or tourism values".
Wind farms are also to be excluded within 3kms of towns and villages and are to be set back from roads and lakes.
It is also proposed power lines linking the farms to the national grid should be placed underground to ease concerns about their visual impact on the environment in sensitive areas.