Dublin's Noise Action Plan

Dublin City Noise Map.
Dublin City Council, 2012.

The four local authorities within Dublin - Dublin City Council, Fingal, Dun Laoire Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils - have produced Maps of noise from major Industry and transport. The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 instructed the creation of these maps after an EU Green Paper on ‘Future Noise Policy’, which highlighted the need for a high level of health and environmental protection against noise.

Noise mapping is the measurement of noise levels at a number of receiver\receptor points. These values are then used to draw colour contour noise maps. Dublin City Council produced noise maps in July 2004 and again in November 2007. The revised Noise Maps released in 2012 show colour coded areas in Dublin based on noise levels in up to 10 bands, ranging from a low of 40 dB(A) to a high of  85 dB(A). An example of one of the maps is illustrated on the right, while the full 2012 Noise Map report, statistics and associated images can be accessed here.

Luas - Green Line

The ‘Luas’ rail is included in All Railway and Major Railway categories of the Dublin City Council noise maps.

Copyright John Kennedy

Luas - Green Line
Copyright John Kennedy

Luas - Green Line

The ‘Luas’ rail is included in All Railway and Major Railway categories of the Dublin City Council noise maps.

Copyright John Kennedy

Enlarge image

In accordance with the directive, the different sources of noise include:

• All Roads
• Major Roads
• All Railways
• Major Railways

*The ‘Luas’ rail is included in All Railway and Major Railway categories.

Traffic on the Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin

Through their work with Dublin noise maps, Dublin City Council can determine that 'Traffic noise is the dominant noise source' in the city

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Traffic on the Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin
Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Traffic on the Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin

Through their work with Dublin noise maps, Dublin City Council can determine that 'Traffic noise is the dominant noise source' in the city

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Enlarge image

Findings

Findings of the 2012 report include:

• Just over 53% of the population are exposed to sound levels from traffic sources below a day time level of 55 dB(A);
• Just over 69% of the population are being exposed to night time levels below 50dB(A);
• Approximately 24% of the population are being exposed to undesirable night time sound levels of greater than 55dB(A) and just under 5% are being exposed to day time sound levels above 70dB(A).

Another conclusion drawn from the report is that the main challenges within Dublin are to reduce the number of people being exposed to undesirable sound levels during the night. Further details on noise maps and action plans can be found on Dublin City Council's website.

The Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan is available here.