Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the process or the steps required for a national road or motorway to be considered for the installation of noise barriers to mitigate the impact on local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1969/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme.

Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction, including noise mitigation measures, for individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise was transposed into Irish law by the Environmental Noise Regulations, 2006. This legislation requires TII and local authorities to undertake strategic noise mapping every five years for all major roads carrying in excess of 8,250 annual average daily traffic (AADT). Noise maps identify and prioritise cluster areas which will require further assessment and may require mitigation measures to be put in place. Once strategic noise maps have been produced, the results are used for each local authority to develop Noise Action Plans as required by the Environmental Noise Regulations.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a more detailed and direct reply on this matter. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.