Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the regulations which exist in relation to road noise pollution where residents are experiencing high levels of noise pollution from traffic; the body which is responsible for enforcing such regulations if they exist; if not, his plans to introduce legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40107/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Noise pollution related to roads is generally dealt with either by the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the Department of Transport in the case of major national road schemes, or by the relevant local authority in the case of non-national roads.

I understand that the 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 in relation to 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. For proposed new roadway schemes, the NRA undertakes an environmental impact assessment, EIA, involving, as appropriate, detailed noise level measurements and forecasts to identify any significant impacts on the noise climate and, where the design goals are exceeded, to identify possible mitigating measures to reduce the impact of these exceedances.

While there are no national regulations in relation to road noise pollution, EU recognition of the growing problem of environmental noise has resulted in an EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to its assessment and management. The aim of the directive is to define a common approach to noise pollution across the EU so as 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 by June 2007 and the second phase by June 2012. Furthermore, 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 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.