Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
86. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does a local authority have to enforce it; what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/24]
View answer87. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does the EPA have to enforce it; and what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
Under Section 108 (1) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority or the EPA, which may initiate proceedings on the grounds of noise nuisance at any sitting of the District Court wherein the source of the noise is located. 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 District Court may order the person or body making, causing or responsible for the noise to take the measures necessary to reduce the noise to a specified level or to take specified measures for the prevention or limitation of the noise and the person or body concerned shall comply with such order. Neither I, a local authority, nor the EPA have any role in relation to the enforcement of a Court Order.
