The EPA recently issued its 2024 State of the Environment Report. The report describes the harmful effects of environmental noise, noting that this pollutant is the second biggest environmental cause of health problems in the EU. Noise mapping undertaken every five years suggests that over one million people in Ireland may be exposed to noise levels above mandatory reporting thresholds set by the EU, based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance. Approximately one-half of people residing in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Limerick are exposed to levels above the WHO’s guideline recommendation. There is growing evidence that elevated environmental noise levels give rise to sleep disturbance, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive impairment in children. Continuously high ambient noise intrusion has been linked to anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes, dementia, and cancers such as breast cancer and lymphoma.
While the issue of environmental noise appears to be gaining the attention it deserves, the report refers to several clear weaknesses in an Irish context. These include the following:
- In 2022, local authorities performed poorly in taking steps to prevent and reduce excessive environmental noise. Only 19 % of local authorities satisfied their National Enforcement Priority requirements. In many cases, local authority Noise Action Plans did not describe specific actions required or implemented, and only six of the 31 authorities performed strongly or excellently.
- The number of noise complaints received by local authorities and the EPA increased considerably in 2021 and 2022 (possibly linked to increased working from home during COVID-19). The Network for Ireland’s Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (NIECE) noise complaint inspection protocol for local authorities may need updating in light of the increased complaints.
- A proportion of noise complaints relate to transport noise. Issues with Dublin Airport aircraft noise have been widely publicised in recent years.
- There is a need for national noise guidance for local authorities. It was hoped that the 2040 National Planning Framework would address this issue, but work has stalled.
- Updated wind energy guidance has still not been issued, despite being promised several years ago.
- The rollout of heat pumps and drones across the country is giving rise to unforeseen noise issues.
Increasing consistency in how Noise Action Plans are prepared and implemented is expected to bring improvements to the management of environmental noise. Plans currently in preparation or recently released refer to priority action areas where noise mitigation will be focussed. In addition, the new Dublin, Cork and Limerick Noise Action Plans refer to candidate quiet areas where the soundscape will be protected. The Dublin local authorities are moving towards developing transport plans which seek to reduce road traffic volumes and reduce noise. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications aims to develop a structure to promote consistent implementation of noise management practices across all local authorities. This may be achieved through a centralised resource office for local authorities.
Pending the introduction of national noise guidance, local authorities may refer to the guidance set out in the Association of Acoustic Consultants of Ireland document Environmental Noise Guidance for Local Authorities (2021).