Vol. 521 No. 3
107 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise further to her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 1 June 2000, the type of differences in aviation terms that might justify fewer restrictions to reduce noise in Dublin Airport compared to Heathrow; and if her attention has been drawn to a substantial level of complaints of excessive noise from residents in the north Dublin area. [16977/00]
The types of differences which affect aircraft noise at Dublin Airport compared to London Heathrow include the relative population sizes and densities on the aircraft approach-take-off flight paths, the types of aircraft in use, the number of aircraft movements and the number of runways at the two airports.
I am aware that there has been a substantial level of complaints recently about aircraft noise from the residents of the north Dublin area. This has been caused by the effects of improvement works to the main runway at Dublin Airport which have led to the closure of that runway on week nights. This resulted in increased night use of the secondary runway while the main runway was closed. It is expected that these improvement works will be completed within a couple of weeks. The main runway will then be restored to full service on a 24 hour basis, which will end the increased night use of the secondary runway and hence alleviate the noise problems.
