Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 294: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if new European Union noise directives require the proposed new roadway schemes be accompanied with detailed noise level measurements and forecasts as part of the public decision making process; and if such directives have yet been transposed into legislation here. [14627/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The aim of Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise is to define a common approach to noise pollution across the EU to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise. This will be achieved through a process of noise-mapping which will apply to agglomerations and to new and existing major roads, railways and airports, as set out in the directive, in two phases. The first phase will be in place by June 2007 and the second phase by June 2012.

The directive aims to ensure the public has access to information on environmental noise obtained from the noise-mapping process. It provides for the formulation and adoption of action plans based on the noise-mapping results, with a view to preventing and reducing environmental noise where necessary. Action planning shall also proceed on a phased basis. The first phase will be by July 2008 and the second phase by July 2012. Regulations to transpose the directive are at an advanced stage of drafting and I intend to make them shortly.

The National Roads Authority, NRA, published guidelines for the treatment of noise and vibration in national road schemes in January 2005. These guidelines establish a more demanding design goal for road traffic noise and provide detailed guidance on the treatment of noise and vibration at all stages in the planning, design and construction of road projects. The NRA took due cognisance of the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC when drawing up the guidelines. For proposed new roadway schemes, the NRA undertakes an environmental impact assessment involving, as appropriate, detailed noise level measurements and forecasts to identify any significant impacts on the noise climate. Where the design goals are exceeded, to identify possible mitigating measures to reduce the impact of these exceedances.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 295: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the European directives in his Department that are awaiting full implementation. [14660/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are six directives or other EU legislative measures under my Department's area of responsibility outstanding for transposition. These are the Directive 2000/53/EC, end-of-life vehicles, which contains two stages of transposition, the first by 21 April 2002 for new vehicles sold after 1 July 2002 and the second by January 2007 for all other vehicles. It is anticipated that this directive will be transposed in 2005.

Drafting of regulations to transpose the Directive 2002/49/EC, assessment and management of environmental noise is well advanced and transposition is intended by mid 2005.

Draft regulations are nearing completion with a view to transposition by mid-2005 of the Directive 2002/88/EC, measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery.

These regulations will also transpose Directive 2004/26/EC, on non-road mobile machinery, which has a transposition target date of 20 May 2005. The two related directives, Directive 2002/95/EC and Directive 2002/96/EC with its amending Directive 2003/108/EC, deal, respectively, with restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and arrangements for dealing with waste electrical and electronic equipment. Legislative proposals for the transposition of both directives are now in drafting stage. It is intended that the directive will be transposed by mid 2005.

Legislative proposals for the transposition of the Directive 2003/4/EC, public access to environmental information, repealing Directive 90/313/EEC are in drafting. It is intended that this directive will be transposed shortly.

I am aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, 200 items of which, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed. More recently external legal and drafting expertise have been utilised in order to expedite this process.