Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a statutory obligation on local authorities or agencies within his remit to carry out noise abatement studies on national secondary routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17772/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC sets out certain requirements for the assessment and management of environmental noise from transport sources, including the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. It is important to note, however, that the Directive does not set binding limit values nor does it prescribe the measures to be included in the action plans, leaving those issues at the discretion of the national competent authorities. The END was transposed into national law by the European Communities (Environmental Noise) Regulations S.I. 549/2018.

The Regulations designate noise mapping bodies and action planning authorities for the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. Primary responsibility for both noise mapping and action planning is assigned to local authorities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the designated national authority for the general supervision of the functions and actions of noise-mapping bodies and, where necessary, provides guidance and advice to such bodies and authorities, in this regard.

In relation to roads, this legislation requires Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII (National Roads) and local authorities (Non-National Roads) 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 important 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. A new round of noise action planning was conducted during 2024 and individual plans, can be viewed on the websites of each Local Authority.

Since 18 July 2019, action planning authorities are required to report to the EPA on all actions including, noise abatement studies, taken under their action plan in the previous 12 months.