Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe and Dún Laoghaire Election Candidate today announced details of the Noise Nuisance Bill which is complete and awaiting publication by Government. Deputy Cuffe said:

“The Noise Nuisance Bill is a key priority for the Green Party and is one of the key pieces of unfinished business remaining from our time in Government. However, I’m pleased to say all of the work on the Bill is complete and the legislation is ready to be published. I hope that the incoming Government will progress the work done by the Green Party in Government and publish this legislation as a matter of urgency.”

The legislation will allow for local authority authorised officers and Gardaí to enter premises to disable continuously sounding intruder alarms and new on-the-spot fines for noisy house parties and loitering.

‘“Noise nuisance is a major issue and can have an extremely negative impact on people’s health and well-being. Obviously the ability for enforcement officers to enter premises and disable persistently sounding house alarms or remove stereo equipment is key to this legislation.

“Dealing with these technical private property issues is why the legislation took some time to complete. However, I’m happy to say that all of these issues have been addressed and the legislation is now ready to publish."

Key Elements of the Noise Nuisance Bill

• Improved enforcement powers for local authority authorised officers and Gardaí including increased access to the courts and a new on-the-spot fine system.
• New powers for Gardaí to deal with complaints of anti-social behaviour.
• New of codes of practice to be approved by the EPA to cover noise from a wide variety of situations on a good neighbour and best practice basis.
• More focused powers for Government to make regulations, e.g. in relation to time limits and sound levels in respect of the operation of intruder alarms.
• Greater involvement of local authorities in noisy neighbour situations, including a role for mediation services.
• Specific provisions in relation to persistent continuously sounding intruder alarms on premises and in vehicles. This will include power of entry by authorised officers and Gardaí to disable noise sources and higher fixed penalties for breaches (up to €2,000 for trade or business alarm and €1,000 for other including domestic alarm).
•  Amendment of Control of Dogs Act to introduce fixed payment notices and to clarify powers of entry of dog wardens.
• Higher profile for noise issues and promotion of integrated approach as a result of the publication by the EPA of an annual report on statutory and non-statutory noise control and management activities of local authorities and other public bodies.
• A new system of graded fixed penalty notices to distinguish between noise caused by trade/business and other sources and different levels of gravity of offences and first-time offences ranging from €150 to €2,000.
• For on-going offences, on summary conviction a fine of €5,000, including daily fines of €500 and/or 6 months imprisonment, or conviction on indictment a fine of €500,000, and daily fine of €5,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment.