Vol. 534 No. 2
12 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will introduce a national statutory noise standard to be applied to both public and private developments as increased urbanisation, higher traffic levels and higher density developments, as well as mixed use zonings, all increase the likelihood of citizens being exposed to unacceptable levels of noise pollution. [10102/01]
EU legislation regulating noise from specified equipment or sources such as new motor vehicles, outdoor equipment, aircraft etc. is transposed into national law as required. Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, planning authorities may include objectives in their development plans to secure the reduction or prevention of noise emissions or vibrations, these objectives, in turn, impact on development control decisions.
Noise emissions from site-specific and infrastructural projects may be regulated by the relevant authorities under planning, including environmental impact assessment legislation and the integrated pollution control licensing system operated by the EPA, as appropriate. The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, empowers local authorities to address noise pollution and provides for district court access for any person in relation to noise nuisance.
