Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a statutory instrument has been brought forward to implement his decision to put the Irish Aviation Authority in charge of aircraft noise pollution monitoring; if not, the timeframe for this and the legislative measures to be put in place; the extra resources he expects to provide to the IAA for this function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33169/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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On 22 September last, I announced details of the manner in which EU Regulation 598/2014, on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports, is to be implemented in Ireland. This will require the introduction of a Statutory Instrument, which it is envisaged will be completed by the end of this year. Officials in my Department are currently engaged with the Office of the Attorney General on the preparation of this Statutory Instrument.

  There is a requirement for regulatory independence in the EU Regulation and its achievement by functional separation is specifically permitted. Accordingly, when announcing that the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is to be the competent authority in Ireland to implement the new airport noise management regime, I also announced that a separate unit is to be established by the IAA to deal specifically with that regime.

Insofar as the resourcing of this separate unit is concerned, the framework arrangements to apply will be addressed in the Statutory Instrument currently in preparation. It is not intended however that this will involve funding from the Exchequer.