Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2018
30. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the works being undertaken by Fingal County Council as a result of the decision to appoint it as the competent authority under EU Regulation 598/14, with particular reference to the fact that it has not been given legislative authority to carry out these functions. [37716/18]
View answerEarlier this year the Government made a decision to appoint Fingal County Council as the Competent Authority for the purposes of EU Regulation 598/2014. Since that decision, my Department along with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has been developing a draft General Scheme to give effect to the Regulation by way of primary legislation.
It is my understanding that Fingal County Council has in the meantime undertaken a noise assessment process as required by the 2002 Environmental Noise Directive, for which it already has existing responsibility. That process includes mapping and assessing noise at Dublin Airport, and producing a noise action plan. There is a strong and deliberate relationship between the 2002 Noise Directive and Regulation 598 as conceived and agreed at European level, which is why Fingal is a natural fit to take on the additional roles set out in Regulation 598.
It is my Department’s intention to have the Primary legislation for Regulation 598 enacted by the end of the year. This will give Fingal County Council full statutory powers to act as the Airport Noise Regulator for Dublin Airport in accordance with the Regulation. There is no question of it acting on Regulation 598 in advance of having those legal powers.
