Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any steps his Department is taking to address noise pollution, and the harm to physical and mental health.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: The Environmental Noise Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 require my department to produce strategic noise maps and an action plan for certain industrial sources. These maps identify the top 1% of the population most affected by noise. During action planning, these areas are assessed to determine whether further investigation is required, and, where appropriate, measures to reduce noise are included in the plan.
My department also compiles annual noise complaint statistics to inform future policy.
In addition, some waste and industrial sites regulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency include noise control conditions in their licences and permits. Complaints are investigated and compliance enforced. Where there is a risk of noise impact, Noise Management Plans may be required, including assessments under the BS4142 standard to evaluate effects on nearby residential and noise-sensitive areas.
ENDS
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