Vol. 524 No. 6
249 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to establish a national acceptable noise standard which would be applicable and enforceable in all future road and motorway construction as the current voluntary British standard is wholly inadequate protection for residential areas. [23536/00]
Forecasts of road noise levels are included in all environmental impact statements for major road schemes. Objections can be made on a wide range of grounds to proposed road developments, including the impact of increased noise, and objectors may raise their concerns at a public inquiry. The approval process for road projects, now operated by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, but soon to be transferred to An Bord Pleanála, can require modifications to be made to the scheme in relation, inter alia, to noise mitigation, and such modifications have been imposed as required.
In relation to British standards, it is the practice that they are used in Ireland as the basis for noise forecasting and calculation. However, as indicated previously, individual projects are assessed on a case by case basis and may include noise reduction systems which are more stringent than the British standards.
In view of the above approach, regulations have not been made under section 77 of the Roads Act, 1993 in relation to noise mitigation on newly constructed roads, nor are such regulations at present proposed.
