Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to overhaul the legislation governing noise pollution and statutory nuisance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14009/21]
View answerThe European Communities (Environmental Noise) Regulations 2018 (S. I. No 549 of 2018) transpose EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Directive aims to provide a common framework to avoid, prevent or reduce, on a prioritised basis, the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise.
The Regulations set out a two-stage process for addressing environmental noise. Firstly, noise must be assessed through the preparation of strategic noise maps for areas and infrastructure falling within defined criteria, e.g. large agglomerations, major roads, railways and airports. Secondly, based on the results of the mapping process, the Regulations require the preparation of noise action plans for each area concerned. The fundamental objective of action plans is the prevention and reduction of environmental noise.
The Regulations assign primary responsibility for both noise mapping and action planning to Local Authorities, and designate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the National Authority for the purposes of the Regulations.
My Department is currently working on transposing Commission Directive (EU) 2020/367, which introduces dose-effect relations for a set of health endpoints such as cardiovascular disease, annoyance and sleep disturbance. These assessment methods are based on the high quality and statistically significant information contained in the World Health Organisation Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region.
Any person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to 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.
