EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 World Health Organization Guidelines for the Protection of Human Health The application of ambient noise targets and limits could help to provide consistent protection from noise for proposed noise-sensitive developments and for existing noise-sensitive premises. In 2018, the WHO published guidance to policymakers on noise levels above which it considers that adverse effects on health and sleep occur (WHO, 2018). These WHO guidance levels are below the END mandatory noise level reporting thresholds for L den (55 dB) and L night (50 dB). Although the END includes a requirement to report and publicise any noise limit values in place, it neither introduces noise limit values nor requires noise limits to be introduced within Member States or by competent authorities. The recent publication of the amended Annex III of the END, establishing assessment methods for harmful effects of environmental noise, did not change this approach. In view of the WHO guidance and the flexibility afforded by the END to allow countries to report noise levels below the mandatory reporting requirements, due consideration of feasibility, costs and preferences should be given before guidance on values or noise limits is introduced by the relevant department. These considerations are acknowledged in the WHO guidelines. In addition to the END noise reporting levels, many European countries have target values or limits for noise. These values may be set at levels below the END mandatory reporting thresholds. Target noise levels are generally used to define the onset level above which noise management will be considered relevant. Higher noise levels are generally set as a noise limit, often as the upper level for new developments or the first target for reducing noise from existing sources. Where only noise limits are published, there may be different limits for new and existing situations. Noise targets and limits tend to be used to protect residential areas and other noise-sensitive developments where long- term noise exposure is expected, for example from roads, railways, aircraft, industry and wind turbines. While noise limits may be specified for industrial activities and attached to some planning permissions in Ireland, target and limit values for ambient noise are not specified. The application of ambient noise targets and/or limits would help to provide consistent protection from existing noise sources on proposed noise-sensitive developments. They would also protect people from the potential impacts of new developments on existing noise-sensitive premises, including dwellings, schools, hospitals and designated quiet areas (Topic Box 4.6). Topic Box 4.6 Protection of Quiet Areas In an urban environment, a ‘quiet area’ refers to a space that is not affected by noise from transport, industrial activities or recreational noise. Dublin City Council has identified eight ‘quiet areas’ and uses its noise action plan as a tool to preserve tranquil areas with existing low levels of environmental noise (Government of Ireland, 2013). The local authority has focused particularly on public parks in the city (Photo 4.3), aiming to provide quiet and peaceful spaces for people to escape to from the wider urban area with its higher levels of environmental noise. Dublin City Council set noise thresholds to help in the designation of the quiet areas. The quiet area designation is considered in the context of any proposed future development in the vicinity of these quiet locations to determine whether the development might have the potential to negatively impact on the existing noise levels. Photo 4.3  Quiet area in Dublin City Wind Energy Noise and Health Revision of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines is under way, covering noise management and noise monitoring aspects. In 2020, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage undertook a public consultation on its draft Revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines (DHPLG, 2019) as part of a review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. In line with the ‘preferred approach’, the draft guidelines include new guidance that aims to take account of technological advancements for the purpose of protecting residents and communities living beside new wind energy developments. The guidance is based on international best practice for wind turbine noise control, including the Institute of Acoustics guidelines (IOA, 2013) and the WHO guidelines (WHO, 2018). 92