Dáil debates

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Noise Pollution

6:40 pm

Photo of Noel RockNoel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Dublin Airport contributes much to the economy of the area in which it is situated. It provides jobs and much for Dublin and the east coast as a whole, as the Minister and I both know and appreciate. However, there are some ongoing noise issues in communities in the locality surrounding the airport. Residents of places in Santry such as Santry Close, Royal Oak and Turnapin have ongoing issues with noise from low flying aircraft. Incidents are occurring at night time and disturbing sleep for many. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, appears, in effect, to be fobbing off complaints. It is stating the flights late at night and early in the morning are by empty aeroplanes returning to base. Of course, it does not matter if a aeroplane is empty or full as far as the individuals and households beneath them are concerned. They are still flying over their houses and making the same amount of noise because the engines are still of the same size.

The Minister met a number of residents from the affected area of Turnapin in October 2016. He promised to assist and the residents received him warmly, as he received them. The meeting was very constructive. Nevertheless, things have not progressed since. As the crow flies, Turnapin is closer to the noise paths and contours of the airport than many other areas which are receiving much more assistance from the DAA. I hope the Minister can encourage it to expand the noise insulation programme to include residents in Turnapin in Santry. I also hope he can use his considerable influence and the weight of his office to impress on the DAA the need to do this. It would be the right thing to do.

On 27 June, DAA held a drop-in clinic. Residents were given only two days' notice and my office was not given any formal notice. I only found out by chance on social media. Nevertheless, by DAA's own admission, the clinic attracted a higher turnout than many other local clinics where this insulation programme already exists. This is clearly a pressing issue for communities such as Turnapin, Royal Oak and Santry Close.

Dublin Airport's new runway is ambitious, and is part of the airport's growth and the success story of the airport, of Dublin tourism and the economy's bounce-back. However, there are also concerns about the impact this will have on local communities with more flights, noise and hours. Perhaps there will be more broken promises on night-time flights. There are concerns that DAA might apply for 24-7 operations, which would mean low-flying aircraft over residential areas in the middle of the night, which already occurs but is explained away as their being empty, rather than full, aircraft, which makes no difference. Residents have been unimpressed by Fingal County Council's appointment as noise regulator. They do not believe it will make a difference. Will the Minister explain how it will? Residents believe there is a conflict of interest as the council is receiving rates from the airport and therefore is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the airport being in the council area but the council is also charged with regulating the airport. Will the Minister explain?

6:50 pm

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to see the Deputy is interested in this matter. I fully appreciate the effect that excessive aircraft noise has on communities. As the Deputy may be aware, the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act was signed into law on 22 May 2019. The main purpose of that Act is to manage noise at Dublin Airport and to give applicability to EU Regulation No. 598/2014, which sets out the rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at European Union airports. The Act provides, for the first time, that noise generated by aircraft activity at Dublin Airport will be subject to extensive, detailed assessment, to ongoing monitoring and to regular review. I raised the bar in relation to what the DAA, as the operator of Dublin Airport, is required to do to comply with noise rules. The Act is about ensuring the sustainable development of the airport, which balances the ambitions of the DAA, the needs of business and tourism interests and the rights of local residents. The Act respects existing planning and development and environmental laws and is underpinned by binding EU regulations and directives on environmental and aircraft noise. It ensures that every time a planning application at Dublin Airport is considered, the aircraft noise implications are considered also.

Fingal County Council has been designated as the independent noise regulator for Dublin Airport. Any decision on noise to be made by the council, in this role as noise regulator, will be evidenced-based and will be fully in adherence with the requirements of national law and EU regulations. The process, as provided for in the Act, requires that at least once every five years the noise regulator will undertake an assessment of the noise situation at the airport. This will include taking into account any future developments planned at the airport. Where the noise regulator identifies a noise problem on foot of that assessment, it will adopt the so-called balanced approach.

The balanced approach allows the regulator to decide what steps need to be taken by the DAA to offset the impact of such noise. It might mean more home insulation, adjustments to flight paths or it might require physical works to act as sound barriers. That will be a matter for the regulator following its detailed assessment. Importantly, this process will be open and transparent.

There will be public consultation and at each stage, the regulator will be required to publish information and evidence and keep all stakeholders abreast of developments. The decision of the regulator will be accompanied by a report detailing how the decision was reached, which will include a non-technical summary. I would like to clarify that the Act must be read in tandem with EU Regulation No. 598/2014 and with EU Directive No. 2002/49/ EC, the environmental noise directive, because the noise regulator must have regard to all three of these in carrying out its regulatory assessment of noise.

The Act, therefore, sets out a process for a noise regulation regime that allows for full stakeholder engagement, along with an independent appeals process, which will provide certainty to stakeholders. The Act sets out a structured approach to assessing and addressing aircraft noise at Dublin Airport with the objective of facilitating airport development and expansion in a way that minimises, as far as practicable, the noise impact of that expansion.

Photo of Noel RockNoel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has said that every time there is a planning application at the airport, the implications for noise are also considered. The Minister might recall from our meeting in October 2016 that for many communities, the current ongoing issues are the problem, as is the consistent breach of the airport's operating hours. Rather than future planning permissions or expansion, it is the inability to adhere to the existing commitments given by the airport and an inability for the communities in Turnapin and Royal Oak to get accurate measurements of the noise they suffer too regularly.

We are at the end of term and have had differences on policy issues including electric scooters, BusConnects and the metro and the Minister called me a populist at our last interaction here.

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Shocking.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ah now, it is a partnership Government.

Photo of Noel RockNoel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Nevertheless, our work has a human dimension. I am conscious that this will be our final interaction before recess. Despite our difference on many transport policy matters, which remain, I understand the Minister will have a significant birthday on Thursday and wish him a good 70th birthday. I hope he has a nice day, enjoys the recess and comes back fully recharged and restored to explore the many transport matters that affect our city and country.

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for those totally and utterly irrelevant remarks, although they make much more sense than some of the things that he has said in the past. I will respond in the spirit that it is meant and take to heart everything he has said today and treat them with equal seriousness.