Should the assessment prove successful, the Wind Farm could generate in excess of 50 jobs for the area, the majority during the construction phase of the project.

However it could be 2020 before the jobs come on stream.

Bord na Mona plan to erect a Wind Monitoring Mast near the Lough Ree Power Station at Lanesboro, as the first phase of the site suitability assessment.

"We are hopeful that it might turn out to be a suitable location and that a project could be developed in the area," says John Reilly, Head of the Power Generation Business Unit at Bord na Mona.

"Although this is a longer-term project, we have applied to EirGrid for a connection to the National Grid from the Lough Ree site."

Wind Farms are developed to increase the volume of renewable energy on the electricity system.

Electricity production rates from the farms are variable and dependent upon factors such as their location.

Currently Bord na Mona have three major wind farm projects in development in Mayo, Offaly and North Tipperary.

"In Mayo we are developing a 370 megawatt (MW) Wind Farm, we are developing an 80 MW project close to our peat/biomass generating station in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, while in North Tipperary we are developing a 40 MW Wind Farm," says John.

"We would hope to have elements of all three operational within the next five years."

On average with a 100 MW Wind Farm, which John uses as an example for the Lough Ree project, the construction phase alone can provide employment for up to 50 people for up to two years, with the creation of ten full-time jobs thereafter.

A 100 MW wind farm could be expected to provide renewable electricity to power some 75,000 homes.

The precise scale and lay-out of the project will be determined by the Environmental Impact Assessment, which will be carried out prior to the submission of a planning application to the Local Authority.

Unfortunately, these jobs may be some time away. According to John Reilly the usual lead in times on renewable energy projects mean that this project may not come on stream until after 2020.

An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, is currently calling on the Government to facilitate a reduction in these lead in times, and in doing so create a smoother process for planning permission and National Grid connection applications.

"An Taisce is strongly in favour of renewable energy (which includes Wind and Biomass].

"It will displace fossil fuels, especially gas with which Ireland has a dangerously dependent relationship," Elizabeth Muldowney, Energy Officer at An Taisce, told the Leader.