Ireland

Guidelines around placement of Mobile Phone Masts & Antennae

In 2012 the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government issued an update to certain sections of the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines (1996) as used by the planning department.  This stated that separation distances from vulnerable places such as schools in development plans, should not now be included in applications and, conditions limiting the life of telecommunication masts and antennas should cease.  The Minister included two reminders i.e. that health grounds should not be considered as part of the planning application and that ‘all future Development Contribution Schemes must include waivers for broadband infrastructure provision …’.  The implications of these changes for local communities who might wish to object to such infrastructure was they could no longer initiate their campaign on policies quoting separation distances as a viable reason to object and, the potential that the previous temporary nature of permission had allowed in challenging application for renewal had ended. http://irishplanningnews.ie/significant-updates-to-telecommunication-planning-guidelines/

“2.3 The Development Plan and Separation Distances The 1996 Guidelines advised that planning authorities should indicate in their development plans any locations where, for various reasons, telecommunications installations would not be favoured or where special conditions would apply, and suggested that such locations might include lands whose high amenity value is already recognised in a development plan, protected structures, or sites beside schools. While the policies above are reasonable, there has, however, been a growing trend for the insertion of development plan policies and objectives specifying minimum distances between telecommunications structures from houses and schools, e.g. up to 1km. Such distance requirements, without allowing for flexibility on a case-by-case basis, can make the identification of a site for new infrastructure very difficult. Planning authorities should therefore not include such separation distances as they can inadvertently have a major impact on the roll out of a viable and effective telecommunication network. https://www.opr.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2012-Telecommunications-Antennae-and-Support-Structures-Circular-PL-07-12-1.pdf

A further update in 2018 on the planning guidelines allow for higher structures and more antennae and dishes on masts, giving even more leeway to telecommunications companies. https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/35bd3-circular-pl-012018-amendments-to-the-exempted-development-provisions-in-the-planning-and-development-regulations/  Pages 5 and 6

To find out location of mobile phone antennae near you visit Comreg Site Finder. 

Who Sets The Guidelines on Ireland’s RF Exposure?

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is currently responsible for policy relating to the health effects of non-ionising radiation including electromagnetic fields.  They are still following outdated guidelines issued by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) in 1998.   ICNIRP is a self appointed organisation which benefits industry rather than public health.

ICNIRP standards, used in Ireland and UK and various other countries,  were voted “out of date” & “obsolete” by the European Parliament in 2008.  These standards are not protective. They do not adhere to the Precautionary Principle and only apply to “thermal effects”, despite evidence showing that biological non-thermal effects do occur with exposure to radiation at levels thousands of times lower than standards allowed in this country.

Some governments in other countries appear to care more about their citizens and allow RF exposures below ICNIRP’s guidelines – over 40% of countries have non-ionising radiation standards more rigorous than ICNIRP.  As you will see from the graph below, Irish authorities allow for extremely high radiation exposure levels.

The Irish Doctors Environmental Association worked for many years to raise awareness of the effects of electromagnetic radiation in Ireland. In 2005, they submitted a Report to The Joint Oireachtas Committee, expressing their concerns, particularly for with electrosensitivity.

The IDEA also contributed to The Safe Schools Report 2012, a comprehensive report from scientists, doctors and experts worldwide about the dangers of wireless technologies to our children. In  2013, they wrote to all schools in Ireland highlighting their serious concerns about the ubiquitous use of Wifi in schools and classrooms.

What’s happening in Ireland now:

The three main telecoms companies –  Eir, Vodafone, Three – are all increasing the installation of 3G and 4G masts and antennae across Ireland with the intention of increasing mobile and wireless coverage to 99% in Ireland.   (Tesco mobile,  Virgin Mobile and Lycamobile all run off Three’s network).  They all have licenses to install 5G antennae also.

ESB Telecoms are also installing masts and antennae.  Check your County Council Planning Permissions regularly for new telecommunication masts, monopoles, smart poles, addition of antennae and dishes to existing mast structures, so that you can object.

Dense Air (Airspan) are installing small cell 4G and 5G antennae

Wifi4EU & Wireless Broadband

In May 2018 Minister for Communications Denis Naughten TD welcomed the launch of the European Commission’s  WiFi4EU initiative which means public spaces across the country will get free WiFi hotspots. €120million is  available to Local Authorities under the Scheme.

59 public areas across Ireland have since been granted funding to provide free, open access Wi-Fi under a €120m European initiative called https://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/wi-fi-ireland-public-spaces-wifi4eu

“Local authorities across Ireland now have an opportunity to install Wi-Fi in their villages, towns and cities, in parks and hospitals, libraries and town squares, and I wish them all the best in their endeavours.” Minister for State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Seán Canney, TD.

Many private Wireless Broadband companies are already providing wifi coverage in rural areas across the country, working off mobile phone masts.  These companies are also increasing their coverage.

Smart Meters

ESB will start replacing electricity  meters with Smart Meters in Autumn 2019. Gas Networks Ireland are replacing their meters with “Smart Ready” meter, to be upgraded at a later date.  Water meters are wireless.

LED street lights are being installed across the country.  As well as the white/blue light from these being harmful to health and wildlife, some will have smart technology installed in them.  Whether they use 5G frequencies or not isn’t known, but again, if 2G, 3G, 4G, wifi or 5G, the increase in harmful wireless radiation is extremely concerning.

5G –  5th Generation

In 2017 ComReg awarded five mobile and internet service providers space on the country’s 3.6GHz spectrum, which has been identified as a primary band suitable for the introduction of 5G in Europe.

In November 2018, Vodafone deployed a new site in Dublin’s Docklands to test 5G hardware, software and services ahead of a wider roll-out of 5G mobile technology. In December, they announced plans to commence 5G wireless broadband trials at four rural locations around the country.

Imagine are rolling out 5G Ready fixed broadband across the country, in mostly rural areas.

2020, Eir are undertaking a massive upgrade programme,  to provide 99% of the country with access to high-speed 4G data and voice services, as well as upgrading many of their existing sites with 5G services.

Broadband Over Powerlines

Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) is a method of bringing broadband internet to the home or office through electrical wires coming into the building. While not wireless,  it can significantly increase Dirty Electricity in the building which itself can cause biological harm. Health concerns with Broadband over Power Lines (BPL)

Siro (ESB and Vodafone) are installing BPL in various areas in Ireland advertising it as Fibre to the Home (FTTH).