Written answers

Thursday, 21 July 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Noise Pollution Legislation

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has planned legislation to moderate the impact of noise pollution in respect of sanctions to control the noise pollution emanating from alarms or faulty alarms in commercial or housing units where excessive noise from alarms is a disturbance to residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24142/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority (PSA), under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality, is responsible for the licensing, control and supervision of all installers of security equipment. The PSA has powers to maintain and improve standards in the provision of services, including standards for intruder alarms. As of 1 August 2006, alarm installers cannot legally operate without a PSA licence, the granting of which requires that the installer is compliant with the Irish Standard for intruder alarm systems, IS EN50131. While this standard does not specify a maximum decibel level, it does specify a maximum duration of 15 minutes for the sounding of external alarms on buildings, which must cease automatically after this maximum duration. This applies to all external alarms installed after 1 August 2006.

In the meantime, 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 procedural and legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

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There is no commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce any further legislation to address noise nuisance. However, should legislation be brought forward, measures to combat noise nuisance from alarms will be considered.

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