Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2013
453. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to providing any necessary funds to complete an action plan on noise reduction in the Strawberry Beds area following the noise mapping currently being conducted by the Dublin local authorities along the route of the M50 [18764/13]
View answerThe Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC sets out certain requirements for the assessment and management of environmental noise from transport sources, including the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. It is important to note, however, that the Directive does not set binding limit values, nor does it prescribe the measures to be included in the action plans, leaving those issues at the discretion of the national competent authorities. The END was transposed into national law by the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006. The Regulations designate noise mapping bodies and action planning authorities for the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. Primary responsibility for both noise mapping and action planning is assigned to local authorities. The Regulations require noise mapping bodies periodically to review and revise noise maps. A new round of noise mapping was conducted during 2012. Individual maps, along with details on the revised population exposure statistics, can be viewed at the following link- www.dublincity.ie/WaterWasteEnvironment/NoiseMapsandActionPlans. The production of the revised noise maps is the first step in the review of the noise action plan for the Dublin Agglomeration, which is to be completed by July 2013. The draft Noise Action Plan will be made available for public consultation on the websites of the Dublin-based local authorities, with notices being placed in newspapers inviting submissions from interested parties for consideration before the Plan is finalised.
My Department does not provide funding for implementing measures proposed in noise action plans, which is a matter for the relevant noise mapping body. Complaints about local traffic-related noise should be addressed to the relevant roads authority in the first instance. For national road schemes, potential noise emissions are addressed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process undertaken by, or on behalf of, the National Roads Authority.
