Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
418. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider establishing a grant scheme in order that Transport Infrastructure Ireland or local authorities can erect noise mitigation measures where roads have been constructed in populated areas. [6566/24]
View answerThe matter raised is one in which I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning have no statutory function. My colleague the Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction, including noise mitigation measures, for individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) - which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport - in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
TII and local authorities are required to undertake strategic noise mapping every five years for all major roads carrying in excess of 8,250 annual average daily traffic (AADT). Noise maps identify and prioritise cluster areas which will require further assessment and may require mitigation measures to be put in place.
TII support local authorities through the provision of noise maps, but it is for the respective Local Authorities to use the results of these noise mapping exercises to develop noise action plans and to implement such measures as may be identified in these plans to mitigate such noise.
TII provides allocations to Local Authorities on an annual basis, so they can deliver on their road authority functions on behalf of TII in relation to national roads. (e.g. 2023 Grant Allocations to Local Authorities for National Roads, Active Travel and Greenways www.tii.ie/tii-library/reports-accounts/tii-allocations-2023/TII_Local-Authorities_2023-Grant-Allocations_Final.pdf.) In addition, whilst not specific to noise mitigation, the Department of Transport provides funding for the maintenance and upgrade of local and regional roads and is a matter in which I have no role.
