Vol. 508 No. 1
567 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if consideration has been given in co-operation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce legislation requiring all security alarms in buildings and cars to have a mandatory cut-off time in order to reduce their level of nuisance, particularly in residential areas. [18480/99]
I refer to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (No. 7 of 1992) and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Noise) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 179 of 1994) made thereunder.
I understand the National Standards Authority of Ireland has published a voluntary standard specification No. 199 of 1987, and operates a certification scheme to that standard, which, inter alia, specifies a minimum 15 minutes and maximum 30 minutes duration for the sounding of external intruder alarms in buildings. A European Standard – EN 50131-1 of 1997 – prescribes shorter minimum and maximum durations of 90 seconds and 15 minutes respectively. The connection of monitored business intruder alarm systems to Garda Siochána stations is contingent upon, inter alia, the use of alarm systems which are certified by NSAI, and installed by certified installers.
