COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 14, 2014
QUESTION NO.28
QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the measures required and planned to mitigate noise pollution in residential areas, as identified through the Greater Dublin Noise Plan mapping exercise; and to further advise if a funding submission has been, or is to be, submitted to the relevant Government Department (this being possibility previously discussed with elected members)?
REPLY:
Under the Noise Action Plan South Dublin County Council is the designated responsible authority for the implementation of the noise action plan within its functional area. This work is to be carried out by the environmental health section at County Hall.
There are no specific noise limit values or standards currently in place for controlling road traffic noise or its assessment on either new or existing roads. The results of the strategic noise maps provide an indication of the extent of environment noise exposure in the County area . However they do not necessarily indicate where noise mitigation measures are required or where they would be cost effective.
The plan therefore outlines proposed to use an Lnight desirable level of 50dB(A) and an undesireable level of 55dB(A) as an interim target to achieve the WHO (Night Noise Guidelines for Europe) of 40 dB as this level cannot be achieved in the short term.
It is concluded in Par 5.7.8 of the action Plan that
“Based on comparison of the ‘Noise Maps’ and population exposure between the noise mapping in 2007 and the current 2012 maps, it can be seen that there has been reduction in the number of people being exposed to undesirable sound levels, especially at night time in the Dublin Agglomeration.
- The number of people being exposed to levels below the night time desirable level of 50 dB Lnight from roads has risen from 3% to 64% of the population.
- The number of people being exposed to undesirable night time level of 55 dB Lnight from roads has reduced considerably from 94% to 22% of the population.
- Less than 1% of people are currently exposed to night time sound levels from roads above 70 dB(A).
- Noise exposure from railways and airports are considerably lower than that from roads.
There are a number of factors that may have contributed towards these reductions, including a decrease in traffic volumes, housing development occurring in quieter areas, movement of population to these areas, and the use of amended calculation methods in the noise model. The number of people being exposed to undesirable night time levels due to Dublin Airport, the Luas and Irish Rail is also low. “
In relation to South Dublin County Council as set out in table 5.6 of the Action plan
- Of the 265,205 people living in the South Dublin County Council Area, 74% of people are exposed to noise levels greater than 55 dB(A) Lden, reducing from 93% in 2008.
- The number of people exposed to the desirable night time noise levels less than 50 dB(A) has increased from 25% in 2008 to 41% in 2012.
- The number of people exposed to the undesirable night time levels above 55 dB(A) has reduced from 43% in 2008 to 29% in 2012 with about 1% currently exposed to night time sound levels above 70 dB(A), i.e. 1,800 people.
- 47% of the population are exposed to sound levels from traffic sources above the desirable day time level of 55 dB(A) with 5% exposed to day time sound levels above 70 dB(A), i.e. 13,100 people.
At a general level, therefore, it can be concluded that there is an overall reduction in traffic noise in the County but there are a number of locations where further detailed analysis is warranted to determine what, if any, additional measures can be provided to continue this reduction at local level.
The onus is on the Council to develop a programme of work which advances this reduction and to set priorities for a cost effective solution at local level across the County.
This programme could involve a selection of a number of areas across the County for more detailed examination to determine the accuracy of the noise levels indicated in the noise action plan with a view to assessing the need for additional expenditure. The Council is currently installing a permanent noise monitoring site in Griffeen Valley which will produce definitive verifiable noise data which can be utilised in any assessment. In addition it is proposed to extend our mobile monitoring network to the more heavily trafficked road network using the public lighting masts bringing the monitors closer to the traffic noise source getting a better representation of the noise experienced by residents.This would give the Council a better idea of the scale of the problem as it affects the Council area. An initial expenditure in 2014 of €20000 is suggested.
The Council does not have any resources in 2014 for construction works and will not be in a position to allocate resources on an ongoing basis until such a programme is completed and the scale of the work is identified.
The financial arrangements pertaining to Council funding vis a vis Local Property Tax will also determine what resources can be applied.
It is unlikely that any additional funding will be forthcoming from the Exchequer in the short term but it may be possible to seek funding from other government agencies such as the EPA in 2015.