Fianna Fáil is calling for a moratorium on all planning decisions on wind farms after revealing the publication of revised guidelines has been delayed "indefinitely".

The current Wind Energy Development Guidelines were published in 2006 and offer advice to planning authorities on the planning for wind turbines.

TD for Laois Sean Fleming said there are "serious issues" with the guidelines.

Deputy Fleming said: "They simply do not take on board many concerns that local communities have regarding proposals that have been put forward to build wind farms in their localities. The Government promised new guidelines to address these issues but no timeline has been given for their publication.

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"I raised this issue with Minister for Planning Simon Coveney and the reply I received is alarming. The Minister has not said when he will publish the guidelines. Worryingly, he stated that a Strategic Environmental Assessment will have to be undertaken prior to the publication of the new guidelines following a decision of the European Court of Justice.

"This nationwide Strategic Environmental Assessment that has to be undertaken is a colossal task which may take two years or more to complete. It will be even longer before the new wind energy guidelines are published.

"We cannot continue to have situations where windfarms are built in close proximity to people's homes, schools and community centers. Local concerns need to be taken on board when deciding on wind farm planning applications.

"Minister Coveney had to be aware for some time that this was coming down the tracks. It's shameful that the Minister for Planning is presiding over guidelines in which he himself no longer has confidence in. There should be a moratorium on all planning decision on wind farms until this is sorted out."

(CD/LM)