Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A public information leaflet A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.
Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from any premises, processes and works. The Environment Section of the relevant City or County Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard.
My Department periodically meets with representatives of local authorities through the Environmental Enforcement Network (EEN). The key objective of the EEN is to foster co-operation between public service bodies involved in the enforcement of environmental legislation, including noise, so that a higher and more consistent standard of enforcement is achieved throughout the country. The legislative options for addressing noise complaints have been discussed at previous EEN meetings and I am satisfied that local authorities are broadly aware of their powers under Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act.
