The Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) aims to put in place a European wide system for identifying sources of environmental noise, informing the public about relevant noise data and taking the necessary steps to avoid, prevent or reduce noise exposure.
The Directive was transposed into Irish Law through the Environmental Noise Regulations (2006-2021). Under the regulations, Strategic Noise Maps and Noise Action Plans are required to be prepared every five years in respect of noise from the following sources:
- Sections of rail route above a flow threshold of 30,000 train passages per year;
- Major airports with more than 50,000 movements per year -a movement being a take-off or landing;
- Sections of major roads with a flow threshold of 3 million vehicles per annum;
- Agglomerations with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
The amended regulations of 2018 are the first to identify the Agglomeration of Limerick which includes Limerick City and environs, and part of County Clare.
Projects to implement the Round 4 Strategic Noise Mapping and Noise Action Plan for the Agglomeration of Limerick and the remainder of County Limerick commenced in May 2021. Phase 1 of the projects involved undertaking noise modelling and the preparation of the Strategic Noise Maps. The Maps for the Agglomeration of Limerick are available to view at the link below.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as the Noise Mapping Body for national roads, have prepared Strategic Noise Maps for all relevant motorways and national routes with more than 3 million vehicles per year on behalf of Limerick City and County Council outside of the Agglomeration. These maps are available at the link below.
The Limerick Agglomeration and County Limerick Noise Action Plans, 2024-2028, can be downloaded at the links below.
- Limerick Agglomeration Noise Action Plan 2024-2028
- County Limerick Noise Action Plan 2024-2028
- Limerick Agglomeration SEA Screening Report
- Limerick Agglomeration AA Screening Report
- County Limerick SEA/AA Screening Report
The Plans include details of the Council’s approach to managing environmental noise in the Agglomeration (relating to human activities in-particular road, rail and industry activities) and the County (relating to human activities in-particular road activities). The plans do not, however, cover noise in relation to health and safety in the work place, noise inside any means of transport, noise caused by military activities in military areas or noise from natural environmental sources e.g. wind, waves, wildlife.