asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce regulations to enforce noise abatement in the vicinity of hospitals and nursing homes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Noise Abatement.
90.
I would refer the Deputy to section 51 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, which makes it an offence for any person to make or cause any noise or vibration in a public place or in connection with any premises which adjoins any public place and to which the public are admitted, if the noise or vibration is of such nature or at such time as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in any premises in the neighbourhood. In addition, the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 makes it an offence to use a vehicle in such a way as to cause excessive noise. The adequacy of these provisions will be reviewed from time to time but no immediate change is envisaged.
Is the Minister aware that in the vicinity of this House there is a problem of noise, which is so bad that some committees of the House are not able to function?
That is a separate question.
I was not aware that the workings of some committees were interfered with in that way.