Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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182. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Dublin Airport noise insulation scheme will be extended to an area (details supplied) in Dublin 17 given that residents have reported a greatly-increased level of airport noise disturbance since the opening of the new runway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45353/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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While I have no role in this process, I can advise the deputy that the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 (the Act of 2019) established the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA). The Act provides a wholly independent aircraft noise regulation process in accordance with EU Regulation 598/2014, ensuring that development at Dublin Airport is subject to assessment and mitigation in respect of the impact of associated aircraft movements on the noise environment around Dublin airport.

ANCA is responsible for ensuring that noise generated by aircraft activity at Dublin Airport is assessed in accordance with EU and Irish legislation and that the 'Balanced Approach' is applied where a noise problem at the airport is identified.

ANCA review planning applications for development at the airport to determine if there is an aspect of the application that would cause an aircraft generated noise problem. It has recently adopted a noise abatement objective (NAO) for Dublin Airport and published its regulatory decision. The NAO is to limit and reduce the long-term adverse effects of aircraft noise on health and quality of life, particularly at night, as part of the sustainable development of Dublin Airport.

ANCA directed the planning authority to include the noise mitigation measure and operating restrictions specified in their regulatory decision as conditions of any decision that the planning authority made.

As part of daa’s application to amend and replace two planning conditions associated with the North Runway, an insulation grant scheme has been proposed. If implemented, the Scheme will provide financial assistance to eligible property owners in the form of a €20,000 grant which can be put towards the cost of noise insulation measures in the bedrooms of eligible properties. Approximately 300 households are located within the noise contour associated with this proposed Scheme.

Fingal County Council's decision on the planning application provides that initial eligibility to a voluntary residential sound insulation grant scheme (RSIGS) for residential dwellings shall apply to all residential dwellings situated within the Initial Eligibility Contour Area map defined by ANCA in its regulatory decision. My understanding is that the estate referenced by the Deputy is not within the contour area.

Under the condition, eligibility for the scheme would be reviewed every two years commencing in 2027 with residential dwellings situated in the 55 dB Lnight contour being eligible under the scheme.

By 31 March 2027 and every two years thereafter, Dublin Airport would update and publish a revised Eligibility Contour Area map identifying all authorised habitable dwellings within the 55 dB Lnight contour in the calendar year immediately preceding the review.

ANCA's role includes a monitoring aspect associated with compliance and implementation of noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions.

Fingal County Council's decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Current indications are that an appeal decision will be issued by An Bord Pleanála in early January 2023.