Noise Action Plan for the Agglomeration of Dublin
Action plan to assess and manage environmental noise
The Environmental Noise Directive (END) requires local authorities to draw-up plans of action which will include measures to 'address priorities which may be identified by the exceeding of any relevant limit value or by other relevant criteria chosen by the Member State and apply in particular to the most important areas as established by strategic noise mapping'.
In-line with the strategic noise maps, this noise action plan is required to be reviewed and revised every 5 years, if required. Both these initiatives are aimed at developing strategic policy and managing environmental noise. It should be noted that environmental noise as covered by the requirements of the END relates to human activities in-particular road, rail and aircraft transport and industry activities. It is acknowledged, however, that most complaints about noise are usually related to local issues, such as noises caused by neighbours, entertainment or construction.
For this reason, Dublin City Council's section of the Dublin Agglomeration Noise Action Plan 2024-2028 includes within a noise management framework, measures to address noise issues covered by local noise nuisances and complaints along with planning and development issues in addition to those noise sources covered by the END. The noise action plan used the Strategic Noise Maps to identify priority areas and measures to help mitigate and manage noise from the relevant human activities contributing to the noise levels at those locations. In addition, the noise action plan identifies candidate quiet areas (areas where environmental noise levels are deemed good) and these areas will be subject to further evaluation during the implementation of the Noise Action Plan. The Plan does not, however, cover noise in relation to health and safety in the work place, noise inside any means of transport, noise caused by military activities in military areas or noise from natural environmental sources, i.e. wind, waves, wildlife.
The Round 4 strategic noise maps were published in March 2023. The noise action plan phase for Round 4 commenced in April 2023. A draft Noise Action Plan was prepared and put out to stakeholder and public consultation in April and May 2024. The Noise Action Plan was screened for both Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). The screenings concluded that both an SEA and a Stage 2 AA were not required. Determinations for both have been prepared.
The final Dublin Agglomeration Noise Action Plan 2024-2028 has been completed by the 18th July 2024, in line with the European Communities (Environmental Noise) Regulations 2018 (As Amended), and a copy can be viewed using the link below. Copies of the SEA and AA Screening Reports together with the Determinations for each are also provided in separate links.
Note for the Reader:
The Dublin Agglomeration Noise Action Plan 2024 – 2028 is a combined plan for the agglomeration of Dublin covering six Action Planning Authorities (APAs) including Dublin City Council. The Plan is structured in two parts as follows;
- Sections 1 to 9 – sections covering overarching principles, policy, methodologies etc with all sections relevant to all APAs.
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Sections 10 to 15 – separate sections for each agglomeration APA which includes specifics on their administrative area such as details of Priority Important Areas (PIAs), candidate Quiet Areas (CQAs) and measures. Section 10 is the relevant section for Dublin City Council.