Tony Gregory
Question:1314 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to strengthen the powers in relation to domestic noise control to bring them into line with the European norm. [21033/03]
Written Answers. - Noise Pollution.
EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise defines a common approach to avoid, prevent or reduce on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure to environmental noise. However, the directive does not apply to noise from, inter alia, domestic activities and noise created by neighbours but rather to noise from industrial activity and road, rail and air traffic. Under section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency are empowered to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. Under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Noise) Regulations 1994 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. There is no proposal to extend the existing controls on domestic noise at this time.