The Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (the Environmental Noise Directive – END) is the main EU instrument to identify noise pollution levels and to trigger the necessary action both at Member State and at EU level.
To pursue its stated aims, the Environmental Noise Directive focuses on three action areas:
- The determination of exposure to environmental noise;
- ensuring that information on environmental noise and its effects is made available to the public;
- preventing and reducing environmental noise where necessary and preserving environmental noise quality where it is good;
The Directive applies to noise to which humans are exposed, particularly in built-up areas, in public parks or other quiet areas in an agglomeration, in quiet areas in open country, near schools, hospitals and other noise-sensitive buildings and areas. It does not apply to noise that is caused by the exposed person himself, noise from domestic activities, noise created by neighbours, noise at work places or noise inside means of transport or due to military activities in military areas.
The Directive requires Member States to prepare and publish, every 5 years, noise maps and noise management action plans for:
- agglomerations with more than 100,000 inhabitants
- major roads (more than 3 million vehicles a year)
- major railways (more than 30.000 trains a year)
- major airports (more than 50.000 movements a year, including small aircrafts and helicopters)
The Directive was transposed in Ireland as Statutory Instrument, S.I. 1401 of 2006, Environmental Noise Regulation 2006.
The strategic noise mapping of the major agglomeration airports in Ireland, Dublin International Airport and Cork International Airport, was undertaken by Dublin Airport Authority. They provide supplementary information relating to the Noise Action Plans developed in 2013 for the major agglomeration airports in Ireland as part of the second round of the implementation of the EC Directive 2002/49/EC. The Directive was transposed in Ireland as Statutory Instrument, S.I. 1401 of 2006, Environmental Noise Regulation 2006.
The strategic noise mapping of the major roads across Ireland was undertaken by the National Roads Authority with the support of the local authorities within whose functional areas the major roads were located. They provide supplementary information relating to the Noise Action Plans developed in 2013 for the major roads in Ireland as part of the second round of the implementation of the EC Directive 2002/49/EC.
The strategic noise mapping of the major heavy rail network across Ireland was undertaken by the Irish Rail, with support from the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) who are responsible for mapping noise emissions associated with operational Luas light rail lines in Dublin. They provide supplementary information relating to the Noise Action Plans developed in 2013 for the major rail network in Ireland as part of the second round of the implementation of the EC Directive 2002/49/EC.
Each Local Authority within Ireland has the responsibility to prepare and publish, every 5 years, noise maps and noise management action plans. Please visit your relevant Local Authority website or office to access these Noise Action Plans.
To see these features on a map of Ireland please use the EPA Map Viewer.
Round 3 - 2017
https://gis.epa.ie/arcgis/rest/services/EPAMapServices/Noise_Round3/MapServer
Round 2 - 2012
https://gis.epa.ie/arcgis/rest/services/EPAMapServices/Noise/MapServer
