Dublin Airport spend over €18m buying and insulating homes near Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport operator daa has revealed it has spent more than €18 million on home buyouts and noise insulation in homes and schools in communities neighbouring the airport.

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The airport published the figure as it today unveiled a new online Maploom tool that will make it easier and quicker for the public to check whether they are eligible for the airport’s extensive insulation and home buy-out schemes.

The new free-to-use Maploom portal allows any member of the public to check within seconds whether any of the airport’s schemes are available to them, simply by entering their Eircode.

To date, Dublin Airport has insulated a total of 170 homes and three schools in the vicinity of the airport. A further 47 homes have been offered insulation.

The airport has re-affirmed a commitment to insulating even more premises over the coming months and years as it seeks to strike a balance between the essential operation of Ireland’s national airport and the impact on valued local communities.

daa has also completed the purchase of 6 homes in the vicinity of the airport under its Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Scheme, with the airport fully open to buying out more eligible homeowners who wish to move. A total of 41 homes have been offered the buy-out scheme so far.

According to Dublin Airport Managing Director Gary McLean: “The launch of the new Maploom tool will make it easier than ever for people to check if they are eligible for any of our schemes.

“Dublin Airport is a significant employer and economic contributor to the areas immediately surrounding the airport, and we’re very conscious that our operations can have an impact on those living and going to school nearby.

“We’ve already done a huge amount of work and spent a significant amount of money to reduce that impact, and we’re fully committed to doing even more.

“Every week, members of the airport team are visiting the homes and schools of our neighbours to listen, learn and discuss how we can help them.

“The reaction to the new Maploom tool has been really positive and will be beneficial to many in our local communities.”

Dublin Airport currently offers three key schemes:

Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Scheme (VDPS): Homeowners in specific areas can sell their properties to Dublin Airport at a 30% premium above market rate.

Residential Noise Insulation Scheme (RNIS): Aimed at improving sound insulation in eligible homes near the airport, with noise reduction of 5 to 10 decibels. A 10-decibel reduction is typically perceived as halving the noise level.

School Insulation Scheme (SIS): Provides noise insulation to schools and pre-schools, ensuring classroom noise levels do not exceed 45dB LAeq over an 8-hour school day.

Eligibility for these schemes is determined by specific noise contours, clearly displayed on Maploom.

daa, as part of a package of measures submitted in support of its application to change the operating hours of the North Runway, has also proposed to bring in a new Residential Sound Insulation Grant Scheme, which would see up to 600 more homes becoming eligible for a grant of up to €20,000 for noise insulation measures.

Supporting information on all available schemes can be found here on the Dublin Airport website.