Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I do know the area. My grandfather grew up there. We had a family farm just on the other side of the Glantane and I absolutely accept what the Deputy is saying about the impact of noise, particularly. It is often forgotten about or it is slightly abstract but it has a huge impact on people’s quality of life and health so it is a real issue.

I will read the response I have because it is important to put on the record where the responsibility lies before coming back to the Deputy. Once funding arrangements for national roads are put in place with TII under the Roads Act, 1993 to 2015, and in line with the NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.

As part of the construction of new roads projects, TII ensures that a detailed noise assessment is carried out at the planning and design phase of the scheme in question. Where necessary, noise mitigation measures are then implemented during the construction of the scheme. However, it is important to point out that the situation differs for existing national roads post construction. The amended European Communities (Environmental Noise Regulations) 2018, under SI 549, deal with the requirements to prepare noise actions plans to be developed for the purpose of managing environmental noise issues and their effects, including noise reduction, if necessary. The EPA is the national authority for overseeing the implementation of these regulations. Local authorities, in their role as designated action planning authorities, are responsible for making and approving noise actions plans. TII’s role in respect of noise mitigation is in the implementation of noise mitigation measures during the construction stage of national roads. With regard to existing national roads, this is a matter for local authorities. TII supports local authorities through the provision of noise maps but it is for the respective local authorities to use the results of these noise mapping exercises to develop noise action plans and to implement such measures as may be identified in these plans to mitigate such noise. As such, it is for local authorities to fund and implement such measures and my Department has no role in this case.

I will put a question back to the Deputy, if I may. With the major development of the Dunkettle interchange over the past three years, which is coming to conclusion, and the tender out for the new motorway section from Ringaskiddy to the Dunkettle roundabout, has the local authority undertaken those noise action plans and noise monitoring on Harper’s Island? What is the local authority saying about fulfilling its obligations under that 2018 regulation under the European Communities noise regulations? It is a matter for the local authority, particularly where it is an existing road. I do not know whether the major road developments in the area might have given or still give an opportunity. I presume it is primarily surface treatment. The alternative is barriers. I do not know whether the local authority has given any indication, particularly in this area where major road developments are taking place, of whether it is doing that mapping or considering any resurfacing - resurfacing would have to be done by TII as a national road in conjunction with a local authority – or whether any barrier systems will be put in place. It is really the local authority that has to take on that function and fulfil the requirements of the regulation.

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