Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

67 Chapter 3: Environmental Noise The EPA summary noise action plan progress report for 2022 (EPA, 2024) relates to round 3 plans. It demonstrates that, in many cases, local authority reports did not outline any specific actions that were implemented in 2022. Where progress was reported by local authorities, such as Limerick (excellent) and Dublin (strong), action mainly related to the use of low-noise road surfaces (such as stone mastic asphalt during pavement rehabilitation), traffic calming measures to reduce speeds, noise monitoring at residential locations, or identifying quiet areas – an important aspect of the END aimed at providing spaces away from noise pollution. However, most local authorities show only moderate or limited progress. Figure 3.6 shows an example of noise mitigation for roads. Figure 3.6  Lower noise road surface using stone mastic asphalt (left) and traditional coarse road surface using hot-rolled asphalt (right) on the M4 near Kilcock, Co. Kildare. Credit: John O’Neill, Kildare Co. Co. Noise research The EPA-funded research project, Noise-Adapt (Murphy et al. , 2021), provided a transitional needs assessment and guidance for adapting common noise assessment methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) to the Irish context for road and rail sources. It was used by the EPA in generating draft technical guidance and round 4 mapping guidance for the noise mapping bodies. 6 Section 107 of the EPA Act 1992 gives powers to the local authority or the EPA to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from a permitted or licensed facility. Another EPA-funded research project, Noise-Health Ireland (Murphy et al. , 2022), assessed the relationship between environmental noise and health in a national and international context. The project identified some key policy recommendations such as developing an ambient noise strategy for Ireland and centralising the strategic noise mapping process. It also proposed that the noise mapping bodies include the complete road networks of Cork, Dublin and Limerick when preparing strategic noise mapping data. 4. Impacts of noise and noise complaints Sources of noise complaints Apart from transport noise, environmental noise can also arise from a variety of other sources including the night-time economy (pubs, clubs and other hospitality and event venues), domestic or neighbourhood noise, industrial or commercial activity, wind farms, marine noise and some relatively new sources such as drone noise. In Ireland, noise complaints about different sources normally fall into three main categories under various regulatory authorities: 1. local domestic noise nuisance including industry and commercial – local authority 2. major industrial and waste licensed sites – EPA 3. transport – TII, Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail, Dublin Airport Authority, local authorities, etc. Noise complaints received by local authorities Figure 3.7 shows the noise complaints received by local authorities for the years 2019-2022. Compared with 2019 levels, the number of noise complaints received by local authorities increased by approximately 32% in 2021 and 15% in 2022. The increases may be understood in the context of the COVID-19 lockdowns and increased working from home. In the 2021-2022 period, local authorities issued over 500 noise warning letters. They also issued a significant number of notices requiring action 6 (43 in 2021, 32 in 2022) to be taken in relation to excessive noise. During this 2-year period, no prosecutions for non-compliance with these notices were made.