Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to implement the programme for Government commitment to publish comprehensive legislation on noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10143/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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.