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Work has begun on a new runway at Dublin Airport. Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Dublin Airport noise regulator established despite concerns over Fingal Council role

The new body, the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, is being run by Fingal County Council.

A DUBLIN AIRPORT noise regulator has been established, Fingal County Council has announced, despite months of scrutiny over the decision to hand responsibility to the council.

Transport minister Shane Ross chose Fingal County Council to be the noise regulator, as opposed to the Irish Aviation Authority, the Department of Transport or another separate body. 

The creation of a new regulator was ruled out over concerns it could prove too costly to establish. 

The body, launched today, will work on issues around aircraft noise, aviation, environment and planning. 

EU rules dictate that a noise regulator is needed before Dublin Airport’s new – and controversial – runway is built and completed as planned in 2021. 

However, concerns were raised about the decision to appoint the council as chief regulator of noise from Dublin Airport.

In March, TheJournal.ie reported that officials raised concerns about a conflict of interest, raising the fact that 8% of Fingal County Council’s annual budget income comes from the Dublin Airport Authority. 

Legislation to create the new regulatory body, named the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, was passed in May after being steered through the Dáil by Ross. It will not manage individual complaints, but will instead work on general regulation of noise levels at the airport. 

The plan to appoint Fingal County Council as the chief regulator was rushed through after a proposal to appoint the Irish Aviation Authority was rejected when the Attorney General warned that it was too dependent on funding from Dublin Airport.

Interim Chief Executive of the council, Ann Marie Farrelly, said the body will now work to assess “current and predicted future levels of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport”. 

“Fingal County Council has a track record of performing the role of competent authority in areas such as planning and environment, and will now continue this in the area of aircraft noise regulation,” she said. 

Gilbert Power has been appointed as the director of the authority. In a statement, he said the body will be “adhering strictly” to its remit.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 12:06 PM

    Dublin Airport badly needs that second runway.. There’s times in the summer when you could be close to an hour sitting on the tarmac waiting to takeoff as the one runway is used for takeoff and landings.. As somebody else pointed out, if you don’t like the sound of planes don’t buy a house close to the Airport.

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    Mute Stephen Fitzgerald
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 1:14 PM

    @David Garland: Dublin Airport cant handle the passengers from the current runway yet alone another. Yesterday passport control room in t2 was full with only two passport inspectors for eu passports and two for non eu with a queue of about 20. Does not make much sense increasing numbers until it can handle the current level.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 3:43 PM

    @Stephen Fitzgerald: Obviously all aspects of the Airport have to improve. You would like to think the other infrastructure like public transport, passport control baggage handlers etc would increase before the runway opens but then again it’s Ireland we’re talking about.

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    Mute Dermot Byrne
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 6:13 PM

    @David Garland: I think the issue is the number of movements allowed between 23:00hrs and 07:00hrs, most European airports close or have reduced movements during these times Dublin currently is allowed 65 movements the DAA’s current management want that to be unlimited. This would go against European best practice.

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    Mute Tony Stanley
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 6:18 PM

    @Dermot Byrne: well thats rubbish. There are very few airports in Europe with night time jet bans.
    Others have limited operations but what has currently been capped for Dublin is one of the most restricted.

    But sure we all love some good made up “facts” on the journal!

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    Mute Jesus Christ
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 11:28 AM

    Don’t buy a house next to an airport. KTHXBAI

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    Mute Darren B
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 11:26 AM

    Thankfully they weren’t around for the Antonov AN-12 at the weekend!

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    Mute Suzanne Dorgan
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 12:18 PM

    @Darren B: Now that is an impressive aircraft!

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    Mute Niall
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 12:17 PM

    With Fingal’s history, that means total disaster for anybody south and west of the Airport.

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    Mute Eamon
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 12:40 PM

    @Niall: not much choice really i’d say, planes have to take off and land into the prevailing winds, which are generally from that direction.

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    Mute Grainne Tallon
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 1:07 PM

    @Niall: I was thinking the same – Dub Airport is pretty much on the border of Fingal.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 1:19 PM

    I’m confused, aircraft were a lot noisier years ago

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 1:40 PM

    @kevinhunt101: yeah well I want treble glazed windows.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 1:59 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: don’t buy near an airport and you won’t need that lol. Airports are only ever going to expand , nobody forces anyone to buy near an airport. Don’t buy a new home near the airport in 1985 for example and complain, doesn’t make sense

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    Mute Boris Becker
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    Sep 2nd 2019, 7:28 PM

    Timing of the new runway is perfect……for the fresh batch of young people who will be leaving this wonderful (not so well run) country of ours. If u aint a social sponge or earning 100k when you leave school a plane out of here is one of their best options to take

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