Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Noise Pollution.

Joe Costello

Question:

306 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the noise pollution and nuisance created by security alarms in residential areas; his proposals to regulate the installation and operation of such alarms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17150/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government (Mr. Cullen):

I understand that intruder alarms gave rise to 11% of the noise complaints made to Dublin City Council in 2001, the third lowest of all categories of complaints listed. Nevertheless, I recognise that alarms are a source of neighbourhood noise. A number of arrangements are in place to reduce the incidence of unnecessary noise from alarms and to tackle persistent incidence of such noise.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has published a voluntary standards specification IS. 199 of 1987 and operates a certification scheme to that standard, which, inter alia, specifies a minimum 15 minutes and maximum 30 minutes duration for the sounding of external alarms in buildings with the alarms being required to cease automatically after the maximum duration. The connection of monitored business intruder alarm systems to Garda stations is contingent, inter alia, on the use of alarm systems which are certified by NSAI and installed by certified installers.

A European standard for external intruder alarms, which will replace all current national standards, incorporates considerably stricter controls regarding minimum and maximum duration for the sounding of alarms. The new limits are 90 seconds minimum and 15 minutes maximum. This standard will be applied by the NSAI for new installations from September 2003.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Noise) Regulations 1994, a local authority or any person may seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A public information leaflet outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance is available from my Department.

In addition, I understand the Private Security Services Bill 2001, sponsored by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and which has completed Second Stage in the Dáil, provides for the establishment of the private security authority to control and supervise persons providing security services, including services in relation to intruder alarm systems, and to maintain and improve services in the provision by them of those services. It is envisaged that the authority will operate a licensing system and will, taking account of the character and competence of applicants, grant licences to eligible persons. The authority will also maintain a register of licensees.

In light of this, there are no plans to introduce further legislation on security alarms.