Written answers
Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Noise Pollution
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken by her Department to ensure schools are protected from noise pollution from Dublin Airport. [67445/25]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
My Department provides design guidance for new schools including SDG 02-05-03 Acoustic Performance in New Primary & Post Primary School Buildings published in October 2020. The overall objective of the performance standards in this document is to provide acoustic conditions in schools that:
- Facilitate clear communication of speech between teacher and students.
- Do not interfere with study activities.
External sources outside the school premises include, but are not limited to, noise from road, rail and air traffic, industrial and commercial premises. Due regard to Indoor Ambient Noise Level (IANL) shall be considered in selecting sites for schools and in the design of the school building layout and orientation. Under EU Directive 2002/49/EC transposed by SI number 140 of 2006, Environmental Noise Regulations 2006, it is the responsibility of Local Authorities to produce Noise Maps and Action Plans. Maps and Action Plans will only be available for agglomerations with:
- More than 250,000 inhabitants
- Places near major roads which have more than six million vehicle passages a year
- Major railways which have more than 60 000 train passages per year
- Major airports
My department notes in relation to Dublin Airport, that Fingal County Council have published the Noise Action Plan for Dublin Airport (2024-2028). The airport authority for Dublin Airport (DAA) is responsible for preparing strategic noise maps and the management of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport in accordance with the relevant regulations.
No comments