Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding his proposals to bring in new noise regulations; if he will establish a system whereby neighbours in dispute over high noise levels can have their dispute mediated or arbitrated upon as opposed to having to go to court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8180/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to reform noise regulation in view of a consultation paper on noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.

My Department is currently preparing proposals to strengthen the existing legislation on noise pollution, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. A public consultation process has been completed, and account is being taken of submissions received from the public and key stakeholders. While there is already a wide range of measures in place to deal with noise from a variety of sources, I intend that the new legislation will take a more integrated approach to noise pollution. There will be a greater emphasis on codes of practice for construction, commercial and domestic situations. Local authorities will have stronger enforcement powers to deal with nuisances from particular noise sources such as continuously sounding alarms, and I also see the need to extend the powers of the Garda Síochána in certain circumstances. There will, in addition, be measures to increase awareness of noise nuisance and of how it can be remedied.

I am also examining the role mediation may have in the case of neighbours in dispute over high noise levels. However, currently, under an inexpensive simplified procedure in the district court, any person may seek an order to have noise causing annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A guide to these noise regulations including the simplified procedure can be downloaded from the following web address:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/NoiseIssuesConsultationPaper/PublicationsDocuments/ FileDownLoad,1319,en.pdf