Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
146. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is the responsibility of his Department to deal with issues of noise pollution arising from a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/24]
View answerMy Department has produced an information leaflet, A Guide to the Noise Regulations, on the legal remedies open to a person experiencing nuisance noise. The guide can be downloaded from the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/make-a-noise-nuisance-complaint/. A National Protocol for Dealing with Noise Complaints for Local Authorities was developed as a cooperative project between my Department, Local Authorities, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Protocol provides guidance to Local Authorities, given existing legislation, as to what is considered best practice for dealing with noise complaints. The protocol can be accessed through the following link: national-policy-for-dealing-with-noise-complaints-for-local-authorities-33519.pdf (clarecoco.ie).
In summary, a 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 course of action is usually undertaken only where a public nuisance is being alleged. The 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.
