Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 7 March 2012 in which this Deputy stated that a mystery noise has been occurring in the area of Glencuttane Lower, in Beaufort, Killarney since April 2011, the current position, since the noise cannot be measured or complained about to the local authority as we are unsure what is causing it; whether there a facility within his Department that can investigate this matter on behalf of the local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14509/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The investigation of noise complaints is a matter for the relevant local authorities. The reported noise source determines how a complaint is investigated and addressed.

My Department recently contacted Kerry County Council to enquire as to whether a complaint had been received concerning an alleged noise nuisance in the area of Glencuttane Lower. I understand that while a complaint concerning noise reportedly emanating from a water treatment plant was received and investigated by the Council's Water Services Section, that investigation found that the plant was functioning normally and was not causing a noise nuisance. The Council's Environment Services Department has indicated that it has not received any formal noise complaint and as such has not investigated the matter. In order to initiate a broader investigation into the matter, it is open to the persons concerned to contact the Environment Services Department in Kerry County Council, at (066) 716 2000 or by emailing environ@kerrycoco.ie.

A public information leaflet How to Make an Environmental Complaint has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist members of public by advising who they should contact regarding environmental complaints and what details should be provided to help resolve the problem. This leaflet can be viewed on the EPA website, www.epa.ie.

In addition, the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) of the EPA supervises the environmental protection activities of local authorities, including the enforcement of environmental legislation, through auditing their performance, providing advice and guidance, and, in appropriate cases, giving binding directions. In this regard, the OEE is an avenue of complaint for members of the public who are dissatisfied with a local authority response to an environmental complaint they have made. The OEE can be contacted at 1890 335599 or through the EPA's website, www.epa.ie.