Vol. 404 No. 1
164 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that existing legislation provides adequate control of and protection for the public from noise pollution resulting from the use of farm cannons as a means of protection of crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Controls in relation to neighbourhood noise are currently provided for under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, as amended.
Present controls will be significantly improved following the enactment of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 1990, which was published last week. The Bill will enable a person or a local authority to bring a complaint to the District Court in respect of neighbourhood noise which gives reasonable cause for annoyance. There will be improved powers for local authorities to deal with local noise problems and the new agency will have powers in certain cases. Finally, there are provisions enabling the Minister to make regulations introducing further measures for the prevention or limitation of noise.
