Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

70 Chapter 3: Environmental Noise The need for better implementation of noise action plans While some local authorities are making progress on their noise action plan implementation, there remains significant room for improvement in the overall implementation of the plans (EPA, 2024). A new approach for the development of round 4 noise action plans should assist the local authorities in developing more consistent plans that focus on priority important areas (PIAs). The approach involves the initial screening of noise- exposed sites based on strategic noise mapping. This process identifies important areas and most important areas (areas of greatest exposure to environmental noise using the results of the strategic noise mapping and harmful effects assessment), from which PIAs are to be selected to provide the greatest noise mitigation returns, in terms of reducing harmful effects. It is anticipated that each action planning authority will focus on these areas within their noise action plans. When implementing noise action plans, on-site noise measurements around PIAs should also be undertaken. These measurements will confirm the extent of noise exposure and can be used to validate the strategic noise models as a baseline for the assessment of noise mitigation measures. 11 Article 10 (1) of the Environmental Noise Regulations (S.I. No. 549/2018) www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/549/ made/en/print#:~:text=The%20fundamental%20objective%20of%20action%20plans%20is%20the%20prevention (accessed 24 September 2024). Candidate quiet areas To avoid the harmful effects of environmental noise in the future, it is useful to consider measures that could provide some protection from the potential impacts of increasing noise sources and exposure and that would look to preserve and maintain areas where environmental noise levels are deemed to be good. These quiet areas may be delimited 11 (defined) under the environmental noise regulations and, in addition to their good environmental sound quality, may also be considered for other amenity and social benefits. For round 4, 10-20 candidate quiet areas have been identified in Cork and Limerick by the local authorities and over 100 in Dublin, using available parks, gardens and green space data sets and the results of strategic noise mapping. During the noise action plan implementation, some of these candidate quiet areas can be evaluated further through measurements, soundscape assessment and other criteria with a view to identifying areas that could be delimited as quiet areas, as set out in the noise regulations. A ‘soundscape’ is defined as the acoustic environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people in context (ISO, 2014). The soundscape assessment is a valuable investigation tool that can be used in the evaluation of candidate quiet areas. Pilot soundscape assessments have been used to evaluate candidate quiet areas in Limerick city (Topic Box 3.2).