James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the law regarding noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22774/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A public information leaflet A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department's website www.environ.ie.

Notwithstanding the measures already in place as set out above, the Government is committed to introducing comprehensive legislation to further address noise nuisance. The General Scheme of a Noise Nuisance Bill was approved by the Government in May 2009. My Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is progressing matters in this regard and the Bill is scheduled for publication later this year.