Vol. 495 No. 1
318 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to make regulations to introduce a statutory maximum noise level at discos, night-clubs or other similar establishments in view of the potential risk to the hearing of the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/98]
I refer the Deputy to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, (No 7 of 1992) and the Environmental Protection Agency Act (Noise) Regulations, 1994 (S. I. No. 179 of 1994) providing local authorities with powers to prevent or limit noise from any premises. Also, section 26 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, (No. 28 of 1963) provides that a planning authority may attach specific conditions in respect of noise to a grant of permission for development.
The European Commission published a Green Paper on future noise policy in November 1996 which aims to stimulate discussion on improving the effectiveness of noise policy. The Green Paper provides, inter alia, an outline of a framework for action and future options for the reduction of noise from different sources. While I have no immediate plans in this regard, further work towards finalisation of national regulations on noise will have regard to emerging policy at EU level.
