Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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957. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will be allocating capital funding in 2026 towards the noise mitigation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58910/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme which was launched in July 2023 aimed to support late night venue owners to take pro-active steps to implement noise mitigation measures to better control and reduce sound emissions from their premises, especially in those areas where it has the potential to impact on residents.

This was a pilot scheme which operated with a limited capital fund of €2 million and is now closed. I understand that 32 venues across the country received grants to reduce the sound emissions from their venues. There are no plans at present to open a new capital scheme, as a full evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot scheme needs to be undertaken.

It is important to note that this was one of a number of actions contained in the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report that dealt with the sensitive issue of noise at night emanating from Night-Time Economy activities.

We will continue to work together with the relevant Government Departments to progress the actions on this issue, in order to drive strategic and regulatory change, to manage the impacts that noise from the night-time economy may have on local residents and businesses.