Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the most recent noise safety review was carried out in the surrounding areas of Weston Airport, Dublin; if safety sound levels are safe for local residents; if the level of airport traffic is monitored; if there is a daily limit to level of activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39024/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Weston Airport is licensed and certified by the Irish Aviation Authority ("IAA") as an aerodrome operator and air navigation services provider. A volume of airspace has been designated to Weston to enable them to provide these services. Under the terms of their licence and certification, Weston are responsible for the safety and management of aircraft, on the ground at the airport, and in the airspace where they provide services. Queries related to the safety and management of aircraft at the airport or in the airspace where Weston provide services should be addressed to Weston directly in the first instance.

Under the 2018 Environmental Noise regulations (which implement the EU Environmental Noise Directive), local authorities are responsible for the noise mapping of the area under their jurisdiction, and the creation of a noise action plan to tackle harmful environmental noise.

In the case of Weston Airport, I am informed that it has not been modelled as part of the South Dublin County Councils strategic noise modelling for the Dublin agglomeration, as it is not a major airport. It is a policy of South Dublin County Council to discourage noise-sensitive developments such as nursing homes, schools, hospitals and conference centres in the immediate vicinity of Weston aerodrome. For residential development and other noise vulnerable land uses, an appropriate noise assessment with accompanying mitigation measures to protect residential amenity would be requested when submitted to the planning authority.

In relation to flight paths, under EU legislation, the operator of an airport is responsible for the design and maintenance of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs), which set flight paths into and out of an airport. The IAA, as civil aviation safety regulator, is responsible for ensuring that IFPs adhere to safety standards set out in national, European and international regulations