asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will take action to reduce the noise level at Ballymun, Dublin caused by low-flying aircraft.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aircraft Noise.
7.
The procedures in force at Dublin Airport are designed to reduce to a minimum the disturbance caused by aircraft noise without endangering safety. Construction of the first of the planned east-west runways and the gradual introduction of quieter aircraft will result in further reductions in the level of aircraft noise in the north city suburbs, including Ballymun.
Is it not the practice in many international airports to lay down particular pollution levels in relation to noise and see that they are not exceeded? Is not this what is happening in New York in regard to the aircraft about which there is so much dispute? One can stipulate the precise amount of noise pollution there will be.
I might say that we have had only two complaints during the past six months in relation to this. There are noise abatement procedures and generally speaking the runway system is designed to take traffic away from the more densely populated areas like Ballymun. There are also other procedures whereby pilots of departing aircraft are requested to follow a predetermined course until they reach a certain height.
Would the Minister agree that the procedures to which he referred are honoured as often in the breach as in the observance? Does the Minister agree that the noise pollution is contributed to very substantially by the height at which the aircraft fly? What monitoring procedures are in existence and what action is taken when aircraft fly below the specified height, as they do quite regularly?
I would not agree with the first part of the Deputy's question.
I live in one of the flight paths, so I should know.
There is no monitoring system here and there are no plans to introduce it. It would appear that unless it were possible to impose follow-up penalties it would be ineffective. There are a number of regulations which contribute towards the abatement of noise and there are plans to construct two new runways at Dublin Airport. The construction of these runways would mean less traffic over the populated areas. Of course, it will be some time before the runways are completed.
What are the regulations controlling the abatement of noise?
I have already pointed out to Deputy Browne what the noise abatement procedures are.
How does the Minister know that the noise abatement rules and regulations are being maintained if he has no monitoring system?
I am sure the Deputy would agree that if we had only two complaints in the past six months it would effectively underline the fact.
A bit crude, is it not?
It is something.
Is the Minister saying that there is not a minimum height at which aircraft may fly over suburban areas in north Dublin? If there are no such regulations, how can he say that noise pollution is not a factor? I would ask him to accept that merely because his Department received only two complaints that does not mean that there are not regular complaints to Dublin Airport.
I should have said that Aer Rianta received only two complaints.
Is the Minister saying that there is not a minimum height at which aircraft may fly over residential parts of north Dublin?
I have already pointed out that pilots of departing aircraft are requested to follow a predetermined course until a certain point is reached; therefore, obviously there is a minimum height.
If they do not do this, there is no procedure for tackling it. This is another meaningless regulation.