Council calls for more noise monitoring equipment around Dublin Airport

This month’s meeting of Fingal County Council saw a number of councillors call for independent noise monitoring systems to be implemented around Dublin Airport.

The North Runway departure flight plans have been a point of contention for Fingal residents since it was implemented in 2022.

Swords councillor Dean Mulligan said that independent monitoring has already been carried out by local residents and stated that the noise levels in the area are 2 and 3 decibels higher than what is permitted by the Dublin Airport Authority.

Mulligan said there is a cost element involved – around €3,000 to €4,000 per monitoring system – but he said the cost was worth it if only to give peace of mind to Swords residents.

“If I was asking for us to investigate the noise at Skerries mills because of the nearby traffic and requested a noise monitor there, there would be no ambiguity” and implied he was coming up against resistance from Fingal County Council management because it involves going after Dublin Airport.

The Independents4Change councillor said that he was requesting independent noise monitoring systems to be installed in around four to six areas beneath the flight path in order to get a better understanding of the issue.

“I’m not asking for the DAA to be involved – I’m asking for independent noise monitoring in areas that are being affected by noise and don’t have noise trackers in place.”

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins, who represents Howth-Malahide, said “all of us who have knocked on doors or spoken to residents in the area know the impact the noise has on the quality of people’s lives.”

She asserted that the DAA, due to breaching the passenger caps, should foot the bill for the noise monitoring equipment.

“They are able to profit from breaching the law,” she remarked.

Green councillor David Healy said “there’s something in between not doing anything and duplicating what the DAA is doing with noise monitoring.”

He questioned if the DAA were receiving different readings than the independent noise monitoring systems being used by local residents.

“I agree that we shouldn’t be duplicating the work the DAA is doing but it should be correct. If there’s any doubt in the community about it’s validity then I think it’s important that we address it directly.”

Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison said “we are the noise monitoring authority and some citizens may feel we are relying on information that is not reliable.”

“Given that there’s been an undertaking to provide a further five mobile monitors that should satisfy local communities,” and added that the monitors were also needed in Dublin 15 along with the coastal areas of Fingal.

Independent councillor Jimmy Guerin noted, “there can be some confusion that some people are getting reports two or three decibels above as the figures on the site are average figures; I don’t see why we should be stepping into the shoes of the DAA.”

“God knows we have enough ongoing issues with them, but I believe it’s more appropriate that they do it,” he said, noting that they have increased the number of noise monitors from seven to 2025 over the last few years.

“I don’t believe that it’s something we should get involved in unnecessarily. It is effectively a statutory duty of the DAA,” he added.

Labour councillor and Mayor of Fingal County Council Brian McDonagh said he agreed with Mulligan’s points.

The Howth-Malahide councillor said “I would think and hope that the monitoring being done by the DAA is being accurately measured.”

“However, I think the real difficulty with noise monitoring are geneally in alignment with the objectives of the DAA and that their objectives are directly opposed to the WHO’s standards on noise. We are in a position where there is conflict.”

He iterated “this is not the DAA’s fault, it’s the fault of the legislation.”

“I hope we can get new, amended legislation with the new Minister for Transport,” and hoped that the conflict can be resolved.

The legislation surrounding Dublin Airport’s flight path was passed in February 2019 when independent TD Shane Ross was Minister for Transport, with Mulligan noting that he and McDonagh were in attendance at the Dáil that day as members of Fingal County Council.

McDonagh said that he “wants to take the politics” out of the issue, and let the independent data speak for itself.

Fingal County Council manager David Storey said the network of monitors remains “under review,” and there is “no justification or budget” for the council to duplicate what the DAA already does.

Mulligan pushed back against claims that new noise monitoring systems have been put in place; the new systems only cover the South Runway, and the only official one covering the North Runway is located in Newpark.

He said the North Runway does not have adequate modelling systems in place, and this is leading to frustration on the ground.

“I’d like to think there is scope for this to be looked at” and said “to say we have exhausted the options is untrue.”

The motion was agreed upon by members of Fingal County Council.

Speaking to Northside People in August 2023, independent Swords councillor Joe Newman, who lives on the flight path, said “Dublin Airport is growing at such a rapid rate, and it has become unsustainable.”

“There are public consultations and there are conditions attached to the expansion of the airport but it’s really lip service.”

“The relevant authorities in this case need to listen to what the people on the ground say – they cannot keep ignoring them.”