*NOW OPEN: Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan 2024-2028:*

 

The public is invited to make a *free* submission to Fingal County Council on the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan 2024-2028. 

 

*Deadline: 5pm on Tuesday, 15th October 2024.*

 

Send your submission by:

 

*1. Email:* noiseactionplan2024@fingal.ie

 

*2. Online Portal:* https://consult.fingal.ie/en/content/draft-dublin-airport-noise-action-plan-2024-2028

 

*3. By Post:* Dublin Airport Action Plan, FCC, County Hall, Main St, Swords, Co.Dublin K67 X8Y2

 

Learn more about the draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan:

 

https://consult.fingal.ie/en/content/draft-dublin-airport-noise-action-plan-2024-2028

 

*Some points to consider for your submission on Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan:* 

 

*1. The Impact of Unauthorised Flight Paths from Dublin Airport’s North Runway:*

 

The unauthorised use of flight paths from Dublin Airport’s North Runway has resulted in noise levels far exceeding what was presented to the public during consultation and planning. This deviation has not only caused undue harm to residents across Fingal and East Meath but has also rendered the Dublin Airport Noise Zones in the Fingal Development Plan ineffective, undermining the land use management pillar of the ICAO’s Balanced Approach. The only equitable solution for the thousands of people affected by these unauthorised flight paths is for the DAA to revert to the flight paths that were initially approved. Only by doing so can the noise impact be properly managed and the integrity of the planning process be restored. 

 

*2. Long-Term Health Impacts and Costs to the Irish Taxpayer Due to Aircraft Noise Exposure:*

 

The long-term health impacts of aircraft noise exposure, including cardiovascular diseases, sleep disturbances, and mental health issues, pose a serious threat to the well-being of affected communities. These health problems, if left unaddressed, will result in significant economic costs to the Irish taxpayer in the form of increased healthcare expenses, reduced productivity, and broader societal costs. Children are a high-risk group vulnerable to the effects of chronic aircraft noise. Studies show a consistent association between chronic aircraft noise exposure and impaired cognition and stress responses in children.

 

The implementation of more stringent noise abatement measures, particularly in response to the unauthorised flight paths currently in use, is essential to prevent further health deterioration and to mitigate the long-term financial burden on the public. Failing to act now will only compound the costs, both in terms of public health and economic resources, in the years to come.

 

*3. Insufficiency in the Verification of Noise Contour Maps in the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan:*

 

The Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan is fundamentally weakened by its failure to critically verify the noise contour maps produced by the DAA. The discrepancies between the DAA's predictions and the actual noise levels measured by the SMTW Residents Group demonstrate that the current noise mapping is inadequate. Without independent verification, the plan cannot be trusted to accurately reflect the true noise impact on surrounding communities. The inclusion of a robust verification process is essential to ensure that noise mitigation measures are effective and that the health and well-being of the most affected residents are safeguarded. 

 

*4. Insufficiency of the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan in Addressing Specific Priority Action Areas:*

 

While the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan takes important steps toward managing aircraft noise, its failure to identify and address specific priority action areas diminishes its effectiveness. The plan’s generalized approach, in contrast to the more precise strategies seen in the Dublin Agglomeration Noise Action Plan, leaves communities most affected by aircraft noise without the focused attention they require. To safeguard public health and improve quality of life for residents in noise-sensitive areas, the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan must be revised to include clear definitions of priority action areas and implement targeted, community-specific noise mitigation strategies.

 

**It is free to make a submission to the Draft Dublin Airport Noise Action Plan.*