The Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) has initiated an assessment of the noise generated by Dublin Airport to see if they have exceeded the allowed noise levels.
Under the laws which brought ANCA into existence, it has the power to initiate an assessment of the noise situation at Dublin Airport to determine if additional noise control is needed.
Since August 24th Dublin Airport have used divergent flight paths off the new North Runway which were not detailed in the planning permission. Fingal County Council issued a warning letter to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in October and the enforcement process is continuing.
On Wednesday a statement was issued by Fingal County Council revealing that ANCA has commenced an assessment. It stated:
ANCA has commenced a review of the impact of aircraft noise on the communities around Dublin Airport. The airport authority (DAA) has been directed to provide operational data to ANCA to inform the review. The outcome of this review will be made available to the public.
Due to the technical nature and volume of the information required from DAA, data will be submitted and assessed on a phased basis over the coming months. Through this process, ANCA will determine if it is necessary to introduce additional noise control measures around Dublin Airport.
This review will examine how the airport has operated since the new runway opened on 24 August 2022 and consider how aircraft operations may affect the areas around the airport in the years ahead.
Cllr Ian Carey, commenting on the assessment said:
This is positive news for communities impacted by the opening of the new North Runway. I can’t say I’m hopeful that it will lead to additional noise control measures because the airport has been given far too much leeway to expand its operations and noise. But what this does is show that if the airport starts to engage in operations that are not accounted for that agencies will react, albeit slowly. Hopefully this sets a positive precedent for ANCA engaging more effectively in monitoring the noise situation and its impact on communities.
