Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding noise level limits for car exhausts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5665/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The (SI 190 of 1963) require vehicles to be fitted with a silencer or other device for reducing exhaust noise to a reasonable level and they prohibit use of a vehicle that causes excessive noise in a public place.

Under Section 29 of the Regulations, combustion engine vehicles must be fitted with an exhaust silencer or other device to reduce exhaust noise. Section 34(2)(e) states that such silencers must be in good and efficient working order. Section 85(1)(a) states that a person shall not use, or permit to be used, a vehicle that causes excessive noise as a result of defect, lack of repair or adjustment of the vehicle or its equipment.

Exhaust noise limits for motor vehicles are set under Regulation (EU) 2018/858 and related regulations for specific components, as part of the RU vehicle type-approval system. New cars must meet Europe-wide noise limits under Regulation 540/2014 (EU). These limits depend on the vehicle type, but have been progressively reduced from 82 decibels (dB) in 1978 to 72 dB in 2016. Incremental decreases will bring the limit for most new passenger cars to 68 dB by 2026. Cars may also be approved under , with similar limits.

In the (NCT), a 99dB noise limit is advised in the , accounting for older cars still in the fleet. A noise test is carried out during the NCT where vehicle exhaust noise is excessive.

Enforcement of vehicle noise restrictions is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Gardaí are empowered to stop cars with removed or faulty silencers and penalties apply under the Road Traffic Acts. The penalty on conviction is a fine which, depending if there have been previous similar convictions, may not exceed €2,000 and/or, at the discretion of the court, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

Officials from my Department meet regularly with An Garda Síochána to discuss matters of road safety and noise pollution legislation has been raised in that context.