Councillors want review of windfarm community funds

Councillors in Mayo have asked management at Mayo County Council to send a letter to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD, calling for the Community Benefit Fund attached to large capital projects such as windfarms to be substantially increased.

Cllr Damien Ryan made the proposal at last week’s meeting of the council after supporting colleagues' opposition to a proposed 16-turbine windfarm in North Mayo. 

Stating that the community benefit rate paid by windfarm developers must be reviewed, Cllr Ryan noted: “The current level is far too lenient and far too low, and I formally propose we write to the minster to have it reviewed. This fund can be very beneficial to the community for what they are asked to endure and needs to be increased significantly because these developers are getting massive yields from their projects.” 

Cllr John O’Malley supported the proposal, saying: “I think too often we have ignored local people in different developments. I have got calls from people as far away as Meath who are very upset North Mayo is going to be destroyed by wind turbines. An awful lot did not know this was going on until they saw it in the paper and that is not the way to do business. People must be informed about what is going on.” 

Cllr Gerry Murray said windfarms should be the remit of the State and not private commercial concerns. 

“It is time the State stood up to the plate and started rolling out renewable energy schemes. We should leave it in the hands of democratically elected people and move away from privatisation and deregulation.”