asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to reports as to the possibility of muffling pneumatic drills in order to reduce the noise made by them; and whether he will take steps to investigate such means of muffling drills, and, if possible, encourage local authorities employing drills in road and other works to have them muffled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Muffling of Pneumatic Drills.
18.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the investigations at present being conducted in Britain are at an experimental stage. If the use of pneumatic drills, mufflied so as to abate noise, is proved to be a practical proposition, I shall be prepared to encourage local authorities to employ drills of that type in the execution of their road and other works programmes.
Will the Minister ensure that his colleague, the Minister for Finance, will see that the Board of Works will have the drills operating outside Leinster House mufflied so that we can do some business?
That is another question.
Even if it is another question, may I further inquire from the Minister for Local Government, speaking with bitter experience of the past eight weeks, if he will take the initiative of looking into the possiblity of muffling pneumatic drills which have been operating under my window now for eight weeks? I think, happily, they have now ended.
That must be very frustrating to the Deputy.
The Deputy ought to make a few speeches and drown them.
I had hoped for a more sympathetic reaction, in view of the fact that the Minister will probably be inhabiting these rooms in the early future.