Environmental noise is 'unwanted sound' arising from all areas of human activity such as noise from transport, industrial and recreational activities. Excessive noise can:
Popular FAQs
What is the role of the various competent authorities in relation to Dublin Airport?
Information on the roles of the various competent authorities is provided below.
The daa has numerous policies and procedures in place in dealing with different elements of noise around the airport. Dublin Airport have their own WebTrak Flight Monitoring System which provides a system for members of the public to monitor flights and submit noise complaints. The Dublin Airport complaints procedure allows for an investigation by their Noise & Flight Track analyst into any given complaint to determine if aircraft have breached the environmental noise corridor. For more information see Dublin Airport Noise.
Air Nav Ireland oversee all aircraft arriving and departing Dublin Airport. Air Nav Ireland provides air traffic control services in Ireland and controls the route in which the aircraft travel. Air traffic management has a vital part to play, not just in delivering a safe and cost-efficient air navigation service but also in minimising the adverse effects of civil aviation, notably aircraft noise and engine emissions. The Flight Track Monitoring Service of daa regularly meet with Air Nav Ireland to carry out a review of aircraft movements in the vicinity of the airport. Further information is available on the Air Nav Ireland website AirNav - Home.
ANCA has the responsibility of ensuring that noise generated by aircraft at Dublin airport are assessed in accordance with EU and Irish Legislation. ANCA monitor compliance with noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions at Dublin Airport. Where a noise problem is identified, ANCA will ensure that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) balanced approach to Aircraft Noise Management is adopted. For more information see Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) Fingal County Council.
The ANCA Aircraft Noise Mitigation report for Dublin airport explains the various steps surrounding aircraft noise mitigation along with the different roles the associated competent authorities play in maintaining such procedures. The report "Aircraft Noise Mitigation at Dublin Airport" also gives relevant Competent Authority contact details.
According to ANCA, any aircraft noise complaints should continue to be made to the Dublin Airport Authority (daa).
Fingal Co. Council are responsible for any planning related matters at the airport. This can include enforcement actions if the airport authorities are deemed to breach existing planning conditions.
Fingal County Council is also responsible for developing the Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan (NAP) NAP Final.pdf (fingal.ie) as is required under the Environmental Noise Regulations. The NAP is designed to manage noise issues and effects associated with Dublin Airport, and where necessary, present measures to reduce the adverse effects of aviation noise where practical. A 6-8 week public consultation phase will be undertaken by Fingal County Council on the draft NAP.
The North Runway was originally granted planning permission in August 2007 by An Bórd Pleanála (to be named an Coimisiún Pleanála) with conditions that include limitations on night-time use of both the new North Runway and Dublin Airport as a whole. In December 2020, the daa submitted a planning application to modify conditions associated with the new North Runway.
The Airport Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) carried out a detailed noise impact assessment of Dublin Airport’s proposals and made a Draft Regulatory Decision in 2021. The Draft Regulatory Decision proposed the introduction of noise mitigation measures to ensure that issues of concern identified in the assessment can be managed in both the short and longer term.
In August 2022, the planning permission was approved by Fingal County Council. The decision allows for new rules around night-time flights to come into effect at Dublin Airport, as put forward by the ANCA. Fingal County Council's decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. It is expected that an appeal decision will be issued by An Bord Pleanála in 2024.
The EPA is the national authority for overseeing the implementation of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2018, as amended. This includes supervisory and advisory functions in relation to strategic noise mapping and noise action planning (every 5 years) for major roads, major rail, major airports, and for large agglomerations (Dublin, Cork & Limerick). The principal stakeholders in Round 4 mapping are the Noise Mapping Bodies (NMBs) which included the Local authorities and the daa. Noise mapping and action plans | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)
The Round 4 Strategic Noise Maps are published at EPA Maps (Environment & Wellbeing – Noise). The airport maps are also available on the daa website Contour Maps Information and Downloads| Dublin Airport. The Round 4 noise maps are based on 2021 data as required by the legislation, the Round 4 mapping guidance and instructions from the European Environment Agency, so the maps do not include the new airport runway which commenced operations in August 2022.
The Dublin airport noise action plan (NAP) is due to be published in January 2025, and there will be a public consultation phase in 2024. The EPA provides technical noise guidance on how to prepare the maps and action plans.
The EPA does not have an enforcement role in relation to noise emissions arising from the operation of Dublin airport. The EPA provides a noise complaints section on their website. This section outlines the different types of noise complaints and provides links to the relevant competent authorities. See Noise complaints section on the EPA website.
If I have a complaint about road traffic noise, who do I report it too?
In the first instance, you should contact your local authority. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) provide a list of links to all local authorities and their relevant contact information in the Local Authorities section on the gov.ie website. The local authority can then advise you if your complaint about road traffic noise is part of their responsibility, or not.
If your complaint relates to a national road or a motorway, then Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who manage this road network, may have a role to play and might be able to advise on any planned works in the area or noise monitoring being carried out. TII have Contact information on their website. There is a section on Noise maps Noise Maps - (tii.ie). TII is a designated noise mapping body for the development of strategic noise maps for local authorities for all major national roads carrying in excess of 3 million vehicles a year, and for light rail lines (Luas).
What is the role of various competent authorities in relation to road traffic noise?
TII are responsible for the management of the motorway and the national road network in Ireland. In 2014, TII (formally known as the National Roads Authority) released a report entitled ‘Good Practice Guidance for the Treatment of Noise during the Planning of National Road Schemes’. (see the Planning section of TII) This study of Environmental Impact Statements of national road schemes came four years after the publication of the ‘Guidelines for the Treatment of Noise and Vibration in National Road Schemes’. The purpose of the review was to evaluate the effectiveness of noise mitigation measures, in achieving the noise design goal as set out in the Guidelines.
The local authorities are largely responsible for all other roads in Ireland (regional, public and local roads). They are responsible for noise mapping and developing noise actions plans under the Environmental Noise Regulations. Local authorities should investigate noise pollution complaints and work to resolve any issues identified where possible.
The department includes an Environmental Protection section on their website which provides information on various environmental problems including noise. This Environmental Protection section includes relevant links to websites and helpful documents on the impact of environmental noise and the various approaches to managing unwanted noise nuisance. For more information check out the Environmental Protection section on the department’s website.
The EPA is the national authority for overseeing the implementation of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2018, as amended. This includes supervisory and advisory functions in relation to strategic noise mapping and noise action planning (every 5 years) for major roads, major rail, major airports, and for large agglomerations (Dublin, Cork & Limerick). The main participants in Round 4 mapping are the Noise Mapping Bodies (NMBs) which include the Local Authorities and the DAA. Noise mapping and action plans | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)
The EPA’s main role is to ensure that the Noise Maps EPA Maps (Environment & Wellbeing – Noise) and Noise Action Plans (NAPs) that are developed by the local authorities are prepared in accordance with the noise regulations. The Round 4 Strategic Noise Maps (roads, rail, airport and agglomerations) are based on 2021 data. Following the preparation of the noise maps, the relevant local authorities, are required to consult with the public in the preparation of Noise Action Plans (NAPs). These action plans are designed to manage transport noise issues and effects, including the priority important areas identified for prevention and reduction of environmental noise.
The EPA provides technical noise guidance on how to prepare the maps and the action plans. EPA also carry out a review of the annual noise action progress reports that are submitted by the various Local Authorities and rank their progress nationally. However, the Regulations do not confer enforcement powers on the EPA in relation to local investigations or the implementation of these plans. For any follow on the implementation of a noise action plan, you would need to engage with your relevant local authority.
The process for developing the next round of noise action plans, which must be published by 18 August 2024, has started. As part of this process the local authority are required to consult with the public on the revision of their action plan during 2024.
How is an airport noise complaint investigated?
The daa have a noise complaint procedure on its website which outlines how a noise complaint can be made and how it is investigated.
The daa operate a Noise & Flight Track analyst to investigate each complaint individually to determine if aircraft have breached the environmental noise corridor. The corridors are the designated airspace that aircraft using the runways at Dublin airport are expected to fly within. If it is concluded that an aircraft has breached the environmental noise corridor, then a letter is sent to the complainant confirming this, and details of the breach are then sent to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA-ANSP) for further investigation. The result of the IAA-ANSP investigation is conveyed to the daa Noise and Flight Track Analyst and a letter is then sent to the complainant regarding the results of the IAA-ANSP’s investigation. Using WebTrak you can track the flight activity in to and out of Dublin Airport, along with information about each aircraft.
What sort of improvement measures can be put in place to address aircraft noise?
Fingal County Council are responsible for any planning related matters at the airport. This can include enforcement actions if the airport authorities are deemed to breach existing planning conditions. Fingal County Council is also responsible for developing the Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan (NAP). The NAP is designed to manage noise issues and effects associated with Dublin Airport, and where necessary, present measures to reduce the harmful effects of aviation noise where practical.
The Airport Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) monitors, and regulates where necessary, for the management of aircraft noise in the communities around Dublin Airport. ANCA is a separate and independent Directorate within Fingal County Council. ANCA monitor compliance with noise mitigation (improvement) measures and any operating restrictions at Dublin Airport. When a noise problem is identified, ANCA will ensure that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) balanced approach to Aircraft Noise Management is adopted.
A Noise Abatement Objective (NAO) is a policy objective for managing the effects of aircraft noise emissions on the surrounding communities and environment at an airport. It is an objective to ensure that any growth at the airport occurs in the most sustainable manner possible with regards to noise. An NAO may be used to guide the decisions that are needed by the ANCA to manage the aircraft noise aspects of future aircraft operations at Dublin airport.
