Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019
Acts of the Oireachtas
Source: Acts of the Oireachtas

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paragraphs: (1) This Act may be cited as the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019.
(2) Part 3 and the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2018 may be cited together as the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2019 and shall be construed together as one.
(3) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may by order or orders appoint either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes and different provisions.
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paragraphs: (1) In this Act—
“Act of 2000” means the Planning and Development Act 2000 ;
“Act of 2001” means the Local Government Act 2001 ;
“Aircraft Noise Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 20141 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports within a Balanced Approach and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC;
“airport” means Dublin Airport and includes, as appropriate, the area around the airport significantly affected by aircraft noise;
“airport authority” means daa, public limited company;
“airport user” means a person responsible for the carriage of passengers, mail or freight by air to or from the airport;
“appeal body” shall be construed in accordance with section 10 (1);
“Board” means An Bord PleanÃ¡la;
“competent authority” shall be construed in accordance with section 3 ;
“Environmental Noise Directive” means Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 20022 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1137/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 20083 adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny and Commission Directive (EU) 2015/996 of 19 May 20154 establishing common noise assessment methods according to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council;
“FCC” means Fingal County Council;
“introduce” includes implement;
“local financial year” means local financial year with the meaning of section 96 of the Act of 2001;
“measure” includes a restriction;
“Minister” means the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport;
“national newspaper” means a newspaper published and circulating generally in the State;
“noise” means aircraft noise;
“noise abatement objective” means the noise abatement objective for the airport;
“noise mitigation measure” means a noise mitigation measure in place at the airport but does not include an operating restriction;
“operating restriction” means an operating restriction in place at the airport;
“specified”, in relation to a form, means specified under section 28 .
(2) A word or expression that is used in this Act and is also used in—
(a) the Aircraft Noise Regulation, or
(b) the Environmental Noise Directive,
has, unless the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act as it has in that Regulation or Directive, as the case may be.
(3) (a) A reference in this Act or in any regulations made under this Act to a period specified in a notice or direction given under this Act or in such regulations means a period reasonable in all the circumstances of the case.
(b) Where calculating any appropriate period or other time limit referred to in this Act or in any regulations made under this Act, the period between the 24th of December and the 1st of January, both days inclusive, shall be disregarded.
1 OJ No. L 173, 12.6.2014, p.65
2 OJ No. L 189, 18.7.2002, p.12
3 OJ No. L 311, 21.11.2008, p.1
4 OJ No. L 168, 1.7.2015, p.1
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paragraphs: (1) FCC is designated as the competent authority for the purposes of the Aircraft Noise Regulation.
(2) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the functions of the competent authority under the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000 (in so far as the Act of 2000 as amended by this Act confers functions on the competent authority) shall be performed by the chief executive.
(b) Sections 148 and 154 of the Act of 2001 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the chief executive, this Act and the Act of 2000 as those sections apply to the chief executive and the Act of 2001.
(c) The reference in subsection (6) of section 149 of the Act of 2001 to the functions of the chief executive shall not include the functions referred to in paragraph (a).
(3) Subject to the other provisions of this section, the functions of the competent authority shall be treated as an executive function, within the meaning of section 149 of the Act of 2001, of FCC.
(4) The chief executive shall be independent in the performance of the functions of the competent authority.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4)—
(a) the chief executive in performing the functions of the competent authority, and
(b) any employee of FCC assisting the chief executive in the performance of such functions,
shall not be subject to the direction of any other person (including the elected council acting by resolution under section 140 of the Act of 2001).
(6) The chief executive, in performing the functions of the competent authority, may, to the extent that he or she is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so, have regard to any plan adopted by the elected council pursuant to the functions of the elected council.
(7) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the members of the elected council shall not influence or seek to influence—
(i) the chief executive in his or her performance of a function of the competent authority, or
(ii) an employee of FCC in the assistance that he or she provides to the chief executive in the performance of such function.
(b) Paragraph (a) shall not be construed to prevent the members of the elected council from discussing the noise situation at the airport relevant to the performance of the functions of the elected council.
(8) Nothing in this section shall operate to prevent a member of the elected council from making a submission or observation to the competent authority pursuant to and in accordance with a provision of the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act or the Act of 2000.
(9) (a) The Minister shall, not less than once before—
(i) the 7th anniversary of the date of commencement of this section, and
(ii) the expiration of each successive period of 5 years following that 7th anniversary,
by notice in writing appoint a person to carry out a review of the performance by the competent authority of its functions as the competent authority.
(b) A person appointed under paragraph (a) shall, as soon as is practicable after he or she has carried out the review referred to in that paragraph, prepare and submit to the Minister a report in writing on the results of the review.
(c) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after the expiration of a local financial year of the competent authority (including, if applicable, the expiration of part of such year in the case of the first report prepared and published pursuant to this paragraph) but, in any case, not later than 3 months after such expiration, prepare, and publish on its website, a report—
(i) in relation to the performance of its functions during such year, and
(ii) setting out the competent authority’s work programme for the performance of its functions in the competent authority’s current local financial year.
(10) In this section—
“chief executive”, in relation to FCC, means the chief executive of FCC for the purposes of section 144 of the Act of 2001;
“elected council” means the elected council, within the meaning of section 2 of the Act of 2001, of FCC.
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paragraphs: (1) Notwithstanding any other enactment or rule of law but subject to section 10 , section 34 of the Act of 2000 as read with section 34B or 34C, as appropriate, of that Act, and section 37 of that Act as read with section 37R or 37S, as appropriate, of that Act, the competent authority shall, in accordance with the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000, have exclusive competence to impose, revoke, revoke and replace, or amend the terms of, an operating restriction.
(2) Subject to section 10 , section 34 of the Act of 2000 as read with section 34B or 34C, as appropriate, of that Act, and section 37 of that Act as read with section 37R or 37S, as appropriate, of that Act, the following are, by virtue of this subsection, void:
(a) any restriction, to the extent that it purports to be an operating restriction, imposed, on or after the commencement of this section, by a person other than the competent authority;
(b) any revocation, revocation and replacement, or amendment of the terms, of an operating restriction purporting to be effected, on or after the commencement of this section, by a person other than the competent authority.
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paragraphs: (1) In this section, “competent authority regulations” means regulations made by the competent authority under subsection (4).
(2) The airport authority shall be liable to pay a monthly, biannual or annual charge (in this section referred to as the “airport levy”) in respect of the costs incurred by the competent authority in the performance of its functions under the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000.
(3) The airport levy shall be paid to the competent authority on or before the date prescribed for the purpose in the competent authority regulations, in respect of the period concerned and in the manner prescribed for the purpose in such regulations.
(4) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after the commencement of this section, prescribe by regulations the airport levy to be paid having regard to the costs incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred by the competent authority in the performance of its functions under the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000.
(5) The amount of the airport levy shall not exceed those sums necessary to fund the competent authority in the performance of its functions under the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000 and may only be applied by the competent authority towards such funding or towards meeting any other costs reasonably arising in the course of the performance of such functions.
(6) Any surplus of airport levy income over costs referred to in this section incurred over a particular local financial year of the competent authority shall be—
(a) retained by the competent authority to be offset against such costs for the subsequent such year, or
(b) returned to the airport authority.
(7) The competent authority may recover, as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction, from the airport authority the airport levy (or any part thereof) due and owing to it.
(8) The competent authority shall ensure that its costs in the performance of its functions under the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000 are kept to a minimum and are not excessive.
(9) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prejudice the generality of any other provision of this Act under which the airport authority may be required to pay a fee.
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paragraphs: (1) The Minister may by regulations provide for such additional, incidental, consequential or supplemental matters as the Minister considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of giving the Aircraft Noise Regulation full effect.
(2) Every regulation made under a provision of this Act, other than under section 9 (9), shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made.
(3) Either House of the Oireachtas may, by a resolution passed within 21 sitting days after the day on which a regulation is laid before it under subsection (2), annul the regulation.
(4) The annulment of a regulation under subsection (3) takes effect immediately on the passing of the resolution concerned, but does not affect the validity of anything done under the regulation before the passing of the resolution.
(5) A regulation may be made under section 9 (9) only if—
(a) a draft of the proposed regulation has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and
(b) a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House.
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paragraphs: Any expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
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paragraphs: The European Communities (Air Navigation and Transport Rules and Procedures for Noise Related Operating Restrictions at Airports) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 645 of 2003 ) are revoked.
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paragraphs: (1) The competent authority shall ensure that the noise situation at the airport is assessed in accordance with the European Communities (Environmental Noise) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 549 of 2018) and the Environmental Noise Directive.
(2) The competent authority shall ensure that the Balanced Approach is adopted where a noise problem at the airport has been identified and, to that end, shall further ensure that, as appropriate:
(a) the noise abatement objective is, as appropriate, defined, restated or amended, taking into account, as appropriate, Article 8 of, and Annex V to, the Environmental Noise Directive;
(b) measures available to reduce the noise impact are identified;
(c) the likely cost-effectiveness of the identified noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) is thoroughly evaluated;
(d) the measures, taking into account public interest in the field of air transport as regards the development prospects of the airport, are selected without detriment to safety;
(e) the stakeholders are consulted in a transparent way on the intended actions;
(f) the measures are adopted and sufficient notification is provided for;
(g) the measures are introduced.
(3) The competent authority shall ensure that, when noise-related action (including a noise mitigation measure or operating restriction) is taken, the following combination of available measures is considered, with a view to determining the most cost-effective measure or combination of measures:
(a) the foreseeable effect of a reduction of noise at source;
(b) land-use planning and management;
(c) noise abatement operational procedures;
(d) not applying operating restrictions as a first resort but only after consideration of the other measures of the Balanced Approach.
(4) The available measures may, if necessary, include the withdrawal of marginally compliant aircraft.
(5) The measures may, within the Balanced Approach, be differentiated according to aircraft type, noise performance, use of airport and air navigation facilities, flight path or the timeframe covered or any combination thereof.
(6) Without prejudice to subsection (4), operating restrictions which take the form of the withdrawal of marginally compliant aircraft from airport operations shall not affect civil subsonic aircraft that comply, through either original certification or re-certification, with the noise standard laid down in Volume 1, Part II, Chapter 4 of Annex 16 to the Chicago Convention.
(7) (a) Measures or a combination of measures taken in accordance with the Aircraft Noise Regulation, this Act and the Act of 2000 for the airport shall not be more restrictive than is necessary in order to achieve the noise abatement objective.
(b) Operating restrictions shall be non-discriminatory, in particular on the grounds of nationality or identity, and shall not be arbitrary.
(8) (a) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that FCC, in its capacity as the competent authority, is a public authority within the meaning of Regulation 2 of the Regulations of 2011.
(b) The competent authority shall, before making its draft regulatory decision under subsection (11), ensure that it has complied with the relevant provisions of Part 5 of the Regulations of 2011 and, if an appropriate assessment is carried out, that such decision, when made, is compatible with such assessment.
(c) The competent authority shall, before making its draft regulatory decision under subsection (11), ensure that it has complied with the relevant provisions of the Regulations of 2004 and, if an environmental assessment is carried out, that such decision, when made, is compatible with such assessment.
(d) The competent authority may, where it considers it appropriate to do so, whether following a screening for appropriate assessment under Part 5 of the Regulations of 2011, or an environmental assessment, or on its own initiative, by notice in writing direct the airport authority to make an application referred to in section 34C(1)(a) of the Act of 2000.
(e) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (d) as soon as is practicable after it receives the notice concerned referred to in that paragraph.
(9) The Minister may, by regulations made under section 6 , prescribe dispute resolution procedures applicable to a dispute which arises between the competent authority and another person during the course of, and relevant to, the performance by the competent authority of its functions.
(10) (a) The competent authority may, for the purposes of an assessment of the noise situation at the airport, by notice in writing direct the airport authority to carry out such assessments and give to it such information or plans arising from such assessments, or to give to it such other information or plans, or both, as specified in the notice, as the competent authority may reasonably require for those purposes.
(b) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a) as soon as is practicable after it receives the notice concerned referred to in that paragraph.
(11) Subject to subsection (12), the competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after having ensured that the Balanced Approach has been applied, make, and publish on its website, a draft regulatory decision outlining the proposed noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) to be introduced in order to address any identified noise problem at the airport.
(12) The competent authority shall prepare, and publish on its website on the same date as the draft regulatory decision, a report in relation thereto which shall state the competent authority’s reasons for such decision and include therein, as appropriate:
(a) a summary of the data examined (including any data relating to appropriate assessment or environmental assessment);
(b) the noise abatement objective;
(c) the measures considered to address any noise problem;
(d) an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the various measures considered;
(e) the application of the Balanced Approach;
(f) the identification of additional or alternative measures (other than those proposed in the draft regulatory decision) that have been considered;
(g) particulars of any proposed noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) to be introduced;
(h) if applicable, the reasons for the proposed introduction of any noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any);
(i) the relevant technical information in relation to any proposed noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) to be introduced;
(j) a non-technical summary of such of the matters concerned referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i).
(13) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with subsections (11) and (12), publish, in a national newspaper, a notice—
(a) stating that the competent authority has—
(i) made a draft regulatory decision under subsection (11), and
(ii) prepared the related report under subsection (12),
(b) stating particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to the draft regulatory decision and related report (which shall include being able to view the decision or report, or purchase a copy of the decision or report at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the competent authority during office hours),
(c) inviting persons to make submissions or observations in writing (and to provide a return address with such submissions or observations) in the specified form (if any) on the draft regulatory decision or related report, or both, before the expiration of 14 weeks beginning on the date of publication of the notice in the national newspaper, and
(d) stating particulars of the addresses (which shall include an electronic address) to which such submissions or observations may be sent.
(14) (a) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with subsections (11) and (12), give the airport authority copies of the draft regulatory decision that it made under subsection (11) and the related report that it prepared under subsection (12).
(b) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the airport authority may make submissions or observations referred to in subsection (13) (c) in accordance with that subsection.
(15) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after the expiration of the 14 weeks referred to in subsection (13)(c) and having regard to the submissions and observations (if any) referred to in that subsection received by it within such 14 weeks—
(a) make a regulatory decision consisting of the adoption by it of the draft regulatory decision made by it under subsection (11) without any amendments or with such amendments as it considers appropriate, and
(b) revise the related report prepared under subsection (12) to take into account such submissions and observations (if any) and such adoption and to state the competent authority’s reasons for such regulatory decision.
(16) The competent authority shall—
(a) as soon as is practicable after it complies with subsection (15)—
(i) publish on its website the regulatory decision it has adopted under subsection (15)(a) and the related report it has revised under subsection (15)(b), and
(ii) send a copy of such decision, together with a copy of the notice referred to in paragraph (b) (whether before or after the notice is published), to the airport authority, the elected members of FCC, the elected members of DÃ¡il Ãireann in whose constituencies the airport is located and the return addresses of the persons who have made submissions or observations referred to in subsection (13)(c) in accordance with that subsection on the draft regulatory decision or the related report concerned,
and
(b) as soon as is practicable after it complies with paragraph (a)(i), publish, in a national newspaper, a notice stating—
(i) that the competent authority has adopted a regulatory decision under subsection (15)(a),
(ii) that the competent authority has revised the related report under subsection (15)(b),
(iii) particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to such regulatory decision and such related report (which shall include being able to view the decision or report, or purchase a copy of the decision or report at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the competent authority during office hours), and
(iv) that a right of appeal to the Board against the regulatory decision exists under section 10 .
(17) Subject to subsection (18), a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of a regulatory decision adopted under subsection (15) (a) shall—
(a) if no appeal under section 10 is made, within the appropriate period referred to in section 10 (2)(a), against such regulatory decision, come into effect on the expiration of such appropriate period, and
(b) after so coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the appeal body.
(18) The competent authority may, by notice published on its website on the same date as the regulatory decision adopted under subsection (15)(a) is, pursuant to subsection (16)(a)(i), also so published—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of that decision, and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such noise mitigation measure shall come into effect.
(19) Subject to section 26 (a), the competent authority shall, in relation to an operating restriction to be introduced by virtue of a regulatory decision adopted under subsection (15)(a), take such steps as it considers appropriate to cause Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation to be complied with as soon as is practicable after it applies to such restriction.
(20) Subject to subsection (21), an operating restriction referred to in subsection (19) shall—
(a) come into effect on the day immediately following the day on which the operation of Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation ceases to further prevent the coming into effect of the operating restriction, and
(b) after so coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the appeal body.
(21) The competent authority may, by notice published on its website at any time before the day first-mentioned in subsection (20)(a)—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of the operating restriction referred to in subsection (19), and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such operating restriction shall come into effect.
(22) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, the competent authority may, in a particular instance, decide not to perform its functions under this section, or to discontinue performing its functions under this section, where it is satisfied that—
(a) a decision under section 34 of the Act of 2000 as read with section 34B or 34C of that Act, or
(b) a decision under section 37 of the Act of 2000 as read with section 37R or 37S of the Act of 2000,
renders, in such instance, the performance, or the continued performance, as the case may be, of such functions superfluous.
(23) In this Part, health aspects shall be assessed in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive and the European Communities (Environmental Noise) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 549 of 2018).
(24) In this section—
“appropriate assessment” means appropriate assessment as referred to in Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive;
“environmental assessment” means environmental assessment within the meaning of the Regulations of 2004;
“Habitats Directive” means Habitats Directive within the meaning of section 2 of the Act of 2000;
“Regulations of 2004” means the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 435 of 2004 );
“Regulations of 2011” means the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 477 of 2011 ).
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paragraphs: (1) The Board shall be the appeal body for the purposes of the Aircraft Noise Regulation.
(2) (a) An appeal against a relevant regulatory decision, together with the appropriate fee, may be lodged with the Board at any time before the expiration of the appropriate period by—
(i) the airport authority, or
(ii) a relevant person.
(b) (i) The competent authority shall be a party to the appeal.
(ii) The airport authority may, at its discretion, be a party to the appeal notwithstanding that it is not the appellant.
(c) The Board may, for the purposes of assisting it to make a decision on the appeal, by notice in writing given to the appellant or any other party to the appeal, the airport authority (if the airport authority is neither the appellant nor another party to the appeal), or any other, in the opinion of the Board, appropriate person, request the appellant, other party, airport authority or appropriate person, as the case may be, to give to the Board such information or plans, or both, specified in the notice that the Board may reasonably require for those purposes.
(3) (a) The Board shall, before the expiration of one week from the date of the appeal being lodged with it, by notice in writing direct the competent authority to submit to the Board copies of all relevant documents and submissions and observations that were before the competent authority in connection with the making of the relevant regulatory decision.
(b) The competent authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a) before the expiration of one week beginning on the date it received the direction.
(4) (a) Subsections (1) to (3) of section 9 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the Board’s consideration of the appeal as if any reference to the competent authority in those subsections were a reference to the Board.
(b) Subsections (4) to (7) of section 9 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to measures and restrictions forming part of the Board’s consideration of the appeal as those subsections apply to measures and restrictions referred to in those subsections.
(c) Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (8) of section 9 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the Board’s consideration of the appeal as if any reference to the competent authority in those paragraphs were a reference to the Board and if, by virtue of this paragraph, the Board gives a direction under such paragraph (d) as so modified, the reference to direction in paragraph (e) of subsection (8) of that section includes such direction so given by the Board.
(d) The Board may, in its decision under subsection (8)(a) and its related report (subsection (8)(b)), accept or reject all or any part of either or both—
(i) the relevant regulatory decision the subject of the appeal, or
(ii) the report prepared under section 9 (12) and revised under section 9 (15)(b) which relates to such relevant regulatory decision.
(e) Subject to paragraph (f), the Board shall make its decision under subsection (8)(a) on the appeal before the expiration of 18 weeks beginning on the date on which the appeal was lodged with it.
(f) (i) Subparagraph (ii) applies where it appears to the Board that it would not be possible or appropriate, because of the particular circumstances of the appeal, or because of the number of appeals under this section lodged with the Board, or because of the number of appeals and referrals which have been submitted to the Board under the Act of 2000, or any combination thereof, to determine the appeal within the period referred to in paragraph (e).
(ii) Subject to subparagraph (iii), the Board shall, by notice in writing given to the appellant and the other parties to the appeal before the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (e), inform the appellant and those parties of the reasons why it would not be possible or appropriate to determine the appeal within that period and shall specify the date before which the Board intends that the appeal shall be determined.
(iii) Where a notice has been given under subparagraph (ii), the Board shall take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that the appeal is determined before the date specified in the notice.
(5) (a) Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply where the Board is considering adopting noise mitigation measures or operating restrictions (if any), or a combination thereof, which were not, during the process that gave rise to the relevant regulatory decision, the subject of previous consultation conducted by the competent authority pursuant to section 9 .
(b) Subsection (12) of section 9 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the Board and the decision it is minded to make under subsection (8)(a) as if any reference to the competent authority in such subsection (12) were a reference to the Board and as if any reference in such subsection (12) to the draft regulatory decision were a reference to the decision that the Board is minded to make under subsection (8) (a).
(c) The Board shall—
(i) publish on its website a draft of the decision it is minded to make under subsection (8)(a)—
(I) identifying all the noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) proposed to be adopted by the Board and not just such measures and restrictions referred to in paragraph (a), and
(II) having annexed to it the related report (subsection (5)(b)),
and
(ii) on the same date as complying with subparagraph (i) (or as soon as is practicable thereafter), publish a notice on its website and in a national newspaper—
(I) stating that the Board has made a draft decision under paragraph (c)(i) and prepared the related report (subsection (5)(b)),
(II) stating particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to the draft decision and related report (subsection (5)(b)) (which shall include being able to view the decision or report, or purchase a copy of the decision or report at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the Board during office hours),
(III) inviting persons to make submissions or observations in writing (and to provide a return address with such submissions or observations) in the specified form (if any) on the draft decision (including any annex thereto) before the expiration of 14 weeks beginning on the date on which the notice was so published in the national newspaper, and
(IV) stating particulars of the addresses (which shall include an electronic address) to which such submissions or observations may be sent.
(6) (a) The Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with subsection (5), give each of the appellant and the other parties to the appeal a copy of the draft decision referred to in subsection (5)(c)(i).
(b) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the appellant and the other parties to the appeal may each make submissions or observations referred to in subsection (5)(c)(ii)(III) in accordance with that subsection.
(7) (a) Where subsection (5) applies, the Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with paragraph (c) of that subsection, by notice in writing direct the airport authority to—
(i) engage in discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority and operators of aircraft in the airport concerning the technical feasibility of, and other alternatives to, the noise mitigation measures or operating restrictions (if any), or the combination thereof, the subject of the draft decision referred to in subsection (5)(c)(i), and
(ii) inform the Board of the outcome of those discussions before the expiration of the 14 weeks referred to in subsection (5)(c)(ii)(III).
(b) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a).
(8) The Board shall, after having regard to all documents, submissions or observations (if any), and other information, given to it pursuant to a provision of this section—
(a) in compliance with subsection (4)(b) or (c), as appropriate, make a decision—
(i) confirming the relevant regulatory decision, or
(ii) revoking and replacing the relevant regulatory decision,
and
(b) prepare a report in relation to the decision made under paragraph (a) which shall state the Board’s reasons for such decision and include therein—
(i) such of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) of subsection (12) of section 9 as are appropriate (which inclusion may be achieved, at the Board’s discretion, by the adoption by it of any part of the report referred to in subsection (4)(d)(ii)), and
(ii) if subsection (5) applies, the related report (subsection (5)(b)) revised by the Board to take into account such documents, submissions or observations (if any), and such other information, and to take into account the decision made under paragraph (a).
(9) The Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it makes a decision under subsection (8)(a)—
(a) publish the decision, which shall have the relevant report (subsection (8) (b)) annexed to it, on its website,
(b) on the same date as complying with paragraph (a) (or as soon as is practicable thereafter), publish a notice on its website and in a national newspaper stating—
(i) that the Board has made a decision under subsection (8)(a) on the appeal and prepared the related report (subsection (8)(b)),
(ii) particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to the decision and the relevant report (subsection (8)(b)) (which shall include being able to view the decision or report, or purchase a copy of the decision or report at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the Board during office hours), and
(iii) that a person may question the validity of such decision by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts ( S.I. No. 15 of 1986 ), in accordance with sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Act of 2000 as read with subsection (17),
(c) send a copy of such decision (whether with or without any annex thereto), together with the notice referred to in paragraph (b) (whether before or after the notice is published), to the appellant, the parties to the appeal and (if the airport authority is neither the appellant nor another party to the appeal) the airport authority, and
(d) if subsection (5) applied, send a copy of such decision (whether with or without any annex thereto), together with a copy of the notice referred to in paragraph (b) (whether before or after the notice is published), to the return addresses of the persons who have made submissions or observations referred to in subsection (5) (c) (ii) (III) in accordance with that subsection on the draft decision referred to in subsection (5) (c) (i).
(10) (a) Where the Board has failed to make a decision under this section in relation to the appeal within the period it is required to do so by a provision of this section and becomes aware, whether through notification by the appellant or otherwise, that it has so failed, the Board shall nevertheless proceed to make such decision and the decision so made shall be considered to have been made under this section notwithstanding such failure.
(b) The Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it becomes aware of a failure referred to in paragraph (a)—
(i) give notice in writing of such failure, together with the reasons for such failure, to the appellant and the competent authority and, if the airport authority is not the appellant, the airport authority, and
(ii) publish on its website the reasons for such failure.
(11) Subject to subsection (12), a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of a decision under subsection (8)(a) shall—
(a) come into effect on the day immediately following the day on which, pursuant to subsection (9), that decision is published on the website of the Board, and
(b) after so coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the Board.
(12) The Board may, by notice published on its website on the same date as the decision under subsection (8)(a) is, pursuant to subsection (9), also so published—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of that decision, and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such noise mitigation measure shall come into effect.
(13) Subject to section 26 (a), the Board shall, in relation to an operating restriction to be introduced by virtue of a decision under subsection (8)(a), take such steps as it considers appropriate to cause Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation to be complied with as soon as is practicable after it applies to such restriction.
(14) Subject to subsection (15), an operating restriction to which subsection (13) applies shall—
(a) come into effect on the day immediately following the day on which the operation of Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation ceases to further prevent the coming into effect of the operating restriction, and
(b) after so coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the appeal body.
(15) The Board may, by notice published on its website at any time before the day first-mentioned in subsection (14)(a)—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of the operating restriction to which subsection (14) applies, and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such operating, restriction shall come into effect.
(16) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government may, after consultation with the Minister, by regulations provide for such additional, incidental, consequential or supplemental matters as regards procedures in respect of appeals under this section as appear to the first-mentioned Minister to be necessary or expedient.
(b) The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government shall, in making regulations under this subsection, have particular regard to the provisions of Chapter III of Part VI of the Act of 2000 and to regulations made under that Chapter.
(17) Sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Act of 2000 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to a decision of the Board under subsection (8) (a) on the appeal as those sections apply to a decision of the Board under section 37 of that Act on an appeal referred to in section 37R(1) of that Act.
(18) In this section—
“appeal” means an appeal under subsection (2)(a);
“appropriate fee” means the fee determined under section 144 of the Act of 2000 for an appeal referred to in subsection (1A)(k) of that section;
“appropriate period”, in relation to a relevant regulatory decision, means the period of 28 days beginning on the date of publication, pursuant to section 9 (16)(a)(i), of such decision on the competent authority’s website;
“related report (subsection (5)(b))” means the report (if any) prepared by the Board pursuant to subsection (5)(b);
“related report (subsection (8)(b))” means the report prepared by the Board pursuant to subsection (8)(b);
“relevant person”, in relation to a relevant regulatory decision, means a person who made a submission or observation referred to in section 9 (13)(c) on the draft regulatory decision made under section 9 (11) (or the related report prepared under section 9 (12)) that gave rise to that relevant regulatory decision;
“relevant regulatory decision” means a regulatory decision made under section 9 (15)(a).
num: 11
paragraphs: The Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following sections after section 34:
“Interpretation - sections 34B, 34C, 37R and 37S
num: 12
paragraphs: The Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following sections after section 37Q:
“Supplementary provisions relating to decisions on applications referred to in section 34B(1) or 34C(1) which were not refused by virtue of section 34B(5) or 34C(5)
37R. (1) (a) This section applies in addition to section 37 in the case of an appeal under section 37 against a decision of the planning authority under section 34 where, pursuant to section 34B(15) or 34C(16), that decision incorporates a regulatory decision of the competent authority under section 34B(13)(a) or 34C(14)(a), as the case may be.
(b) The competent authority shall be a party to the appeal notwithstanding section 34B(15)(b) or 34C(16)(b).
(2) For the purposes of a relevant appeal, the reference in section 37(1) to ‘any person who made submissions or observations in writing in relation to the planning application to the planning authority’ includes any person who made submissions or observations in writing referred to in section 34B(11)(c) or 34C(12)(c) to the competent authority in relation to the draft regulatory decision or related report referred to in section 34B(9) or (10), as the case may be, or section 34C(10) or (11), as the case may be.
(3) (a) Subsections (1) to (3) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the Board’s consideration of the relevant appeal as if any reference to the competent authority in those subsections were a reference to the Board.
(b) Subsections (4) to (7) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to measures and restrictions forming part of the Board’s consideration of the relevant appeal as those subsections apply to measures and restrictions referred to in those subsections.
(c) The Board may, in its decision on the relevant appeal and its related report (subsection (7)(a)), accept or reject all or any part of either or both—
(i) the relevant regulatory decision the subject of the appeal, or
(ii) the report prepared under section 34B(10) and revised under section 34B(13)(b), or prepared under section 34C(11) and revised under section 34C(14)(b), as appropriate, which relates to such relevant regulatory decision.
(4) (a) Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply where the Board is considering, in its determination of the relevant appeal in so far as the appeal relates to the relevant regulatory decision, adopting noise mitigation measures or operating restrictions (if any), or a combination thereof, which were not, during the process that gave rise to the relevant regulatory decision, the subject of previous consultation conducted by the competent authority pursuant to section 34B or 34C, as the case may be.
(b) Subsection (12) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the Board and the decision it is minded to make on the relevant appeal as if any reference to the competent authority in that subsection were a reference to the Board and as if any reference in that subsection to the draft regulatory decision were a reference to the decision that the Board is minded to make on the relevant appeal.
(c) The Board shall—
(i) publish on its website a draft of the decision it is minded to make on the relevant appeal in so far as the decision relates to the relevant regulatory decision—
(I) identifying all the noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) proposed to be adopted by the Board and not just such measures and restrictions (if any) referred to in paragraph (a), and
(II) stating, at a minimum, the Board’s reasons for the draft decision and having annexed to it the related report (subsection (4)(b)),
and
(ii) on the same date as complying with subparagraph (i) (or as soon as is practicable thereafter), publish a notice on its website and in a national newspaper—
(I) stating that the Board has made a draft decision under paragraph (c)(i) on the relevant appeal in so far as the appeal relates to the relevant regulatory decision and prepared the related report (subsection (4)(b)),
(II) stating particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to the draft decision and related report (subsection (4)(b)) (which shall include being able to view the decision or report, or purchase a copy of the decision or report at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the Board during office hours),
(III) inviting persons to make submissions or observations in writing (and to provide a return address with such submissions or observations) in the specified form (if any) on the draft decision (including any annex thereto) before the expiration of 14 weeks beginning on the date on which the notice was so published in the national newspaper, and
(IV) stating particulars of the addresses (which shall include an electronic address) to which such submissions or observations may be sent.
(5) (a) The Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with subsection (4), give each of the appellant and the other parties to the relevant appeal a copy of the draft decision referred to in subsection (4)(c)(i).
(b) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the appellant and the other parties to the relevant appeal may each make submissions or observations referred to in subsection (4)(c)(ii)(II) in accordance with that subsection.
(6) (a) Where subsection (4) applies, the Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it complies with paragraph (c) of that subsection, by notice in writing direct the airport authority to—
(i) engage in discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority and operators of aircraft in the airport concerning the technical feasibility of, and other alternatives to, the noise mitigation measures or operating restrictions (if any), or the combination thereof, the subject of the draft decision referred to in subsection (4)(c)(i), and
(ii) inform the Board of the outcome of those discussions before the expiration of the 14 weeks referred to in subsection (4)(c)(ii)(II).
(b) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a).
(7) The Board shall, as soon as is practicable after it makes a decision on the relevant appeal in so far as the appeal relates to the relevant regulatory decision—
(a) publish on its website the first-mentioned decision, in so far as it so relates, to which is annexed a report prepared by the Board in relation to such decision stating the Board’s reasons for such decision and including therein—
(i) such of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) of subsection (10) of section 34B or paragraphs (a) to (j) of subsection (11) of section 34C, as the case may be, as are appropriate (which inclusion may be achieved, at the Board’s discretion, by the adoption by it of any part of the report concerned referred to in subsection (3)(c)(ii)), and
(ii) if subsection (4) applies, the related report (subsection (4)(b)) revised by the Board to take into account all documents, submissions or observations (if any), and such other information, given to it pursuant to a provision of this section and to take into account the first-mentioned decision in so far as it so relates,
(b) on the same date as complying with paragraph (a) (or as soon as is practicable thereafter), publish a notice on its website and in a national newspaper stating—
(i) that it has made a decision on the relevant appeal in so far as the appeal relates to the relevant regulatory decision,
(ii) particulars of how persons may view or otherwise have access to such decision (including any annex thereto) in so far as it so relates (which shall include being able to view the decision, or purchase a copy of the decision at a reasonable cost, at the offices of the Board during office hours), and
(iii) that a person may question the validity of the Board’s decision on the relevant appeal (including such decision in so far as it relates to the relevant regulatory decision) by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts ( S.I. No. 15 of 1986 ), in accordance with section 50,
(c) send a copy of such decision (whether with or without any annex thereto), together with the notice referred to in paragraph (b) (whether before or after the notice is published), to the appellant, the other parties to the relevant appeal and (if the airport authority is neither the appellant nor another party to the relevant appeal) the airport authority, and
(d) if subsection (4) applied, send a copy of such decision (whether with or without any annex thereto), together with the notice referred to in paragraph (b) (whether before or after the notice is published), to the return addresses of the persons who have made submissions or observations referred to in subsection (4)(c)(ii)(II) in accordance with that subsection on the draft decision concerned.
(8) Where the Board has failed to make a decision under section 37 as read with this section in relation to the relevant appeal within the period it is required to do so by a provision of this Act and becomes aware, whether through notification by the appellant or otherwise, that it has so failed, the Board shall nevertheless proceed to make such decision and the decision so made shall be considered to have been made under section 37 notwithstanding such failure.
(9) Subject to subsection (10), a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of a decision on the relevant appeal in so far as the decision relates to the relevant regulatory decision shall—
(a) come into effect on the day immediately following the day on which, pursuant to subsection (7), that first-mentioned decision is published on the website of the Board, and
(b) after coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the Board.
(10) The Board may, by notice published on its website on the same date as the decision first-mentioned in subsection (9) is, pursuant to subsection (7), also so published—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of a noise mitigation measure to be introduced by virtue of that decision, and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such noise mitigation measure shall come into effect.
(11) Subject to section 26 (b) of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, the Board shall, in relation to an operating restriction to be introduced by virtue of a decision on the relevant appeal in so far as the decision relates to the relevant regulatory decision, take such steps as it considers appropriate to cause Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation to be complied with as soon as is practicable after it applies to such restriction.
(12) Subject to subsection (13), an operating restriction to which subsection (11) applies shall—
(a) come into effect on the day immediately following the day on which the operation of Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation ceases to further prevent the coming into effect of the operating restriction, and
(b) after so coming into effect, remain in effect until revoked, or revoked and replaced, by the competent authority or the appeal body.
(13) The Board may, by notice published on its website at any time before the day first-mentioned in subsection (12)(a)—
(a) authorise, for reasons stated in the notice, a lead in time for the coming into effect of the operating restriction to which subsection (12) applies, and
(b) specify the date, or the occurrence of the event, on which such operating restriction shall come into effect.
(14) In this section—
‘related report (subsection (4)(b))’ means the report (if any) prepared by the Board pursuant to subsection (4)(b);
‘related report (subsection (7)(a))’ means the report prepared by the Board pursuant to subsection (7)(a);
‘relevant appeal’ means an appeal referred to in subsection (1)(a);
‘relevant regulatory decision’, in relation to a relevant appeal, means the relevant regulatory decision referred to in subsection (1) which is incorporated into the planning authority’s decision under section 34 that is the subject of the relevant appeal.
Supplementary provisions relating to decisions on applications referred to in section 34B(1) or 34C(1)
37S. (1) (a) This section applies in addition to section 37 in the case of an appeal under section 37 against a decision of the planning authority under section 34 where—
(i) pursuant to section 34B(1)(a), the competent authority concludes that it is not of the opinion referred to in section 34B(1)(a)(iii), or
(ii) pursuant to section 34B(5) or 34C(5), that decision is to refuse the application concerned.
(b) The competent authority shall be a party to the appeal notwithstanding section 34B(5)(d) or 34C(5)(d).
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the Board’s powers under section 37, or under section 37 as read with any other provision of this Act, the Board shall, in determining the appeal—
(a) where subsection (1)(a)(i) applies, take into account such of the provisions of section 34B following subsection (1) of such section 34B, and of section 26 (b) (with all necessary modifications) of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, as are, in the Board’s opinion, relevant to the appeal,
(b) where the refusal referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii) arises from the operation of section 34B(5), take account of such of the provisions of section 34B following subsection (5) of such section 34B, and of section 26 (b) (with all necessary modifications) of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, as are, in the Board’s opinion, relevant to the appeal, or
(c) where the refusal referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii) arises from the operation of section 34C(5), take account of such of the provisions of section 34C following subsection (5) of such section 34C, and of section 26 (b) (with all necessary modifications) of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, as are, in the Board’s opinion, relevant to the appeal.
(3) Subsections (1) to (3) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to—
(a) the Board’s consideration of the appeal in so far as such consideration relates to—
(i) a conclusion referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i), or
(ii) a refusal referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii),
and
(b) the Board’s determination of the appeal in so far as it so relates as referred to in paragraph (a),
as if any reference to the competent authority in those subsections (1) to (3) of that section 9 were a reference to the Board.
(4) Subsections (4) to (7) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to measures and restrictions forming part of the Board’s consideration of the appeal as those subsections apply to measures and restrictions referred to in those subsections.
(5) Subsection (12) of section 9 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to—
(a) the Board and the decision it is minded to make on the appeal in so far as such decision relates to—
(i) a conclusion referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i), or
(ii) a refusal referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii),
and
(b) the Board’s determination of the appeal in so far as it so relates as referred to in paragraph (a),
as if any reference to the competent authority in such subsection (12) were a reference to the Board and as if any reference in such subsection (12) to the draft regulatory decision were a reference to the decision that the Board is minded to make on such appeal.”.
num: 13
paragraphs: Section 50 of the Act of 2000 is amended, in subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (b), by the substitution of “Part XIV,” for “Part XIV, or”,
(b) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “land, or” for “land,”, and
(c) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (c):
“(d) without prejudice to the right of appeal referred to in section 37 as read with section 37R—
(i) the competent authority (within the meaning of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019), or
(ii) the Board in its capacity as the appeal body from decisions of such competent authority,”.
num: 14
paragraphs: Section 144 of the Act of 2000 is amended, in subsection (1A)—
(a) in paragraph (j), by the substitution of “section 48(b));” for section 48(b)).”, and
(b) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (j):
“(k) an appeal under section 10 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 against a relevant regulatory decision within the meaning of that section.”.
num: 15
paragraphs: Section 247 of the Act of 2000 is amended, in subsection (1A), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (f):
“(g) A planning authority shall, in carrying out consultations under this section, consult with the competent authority (within the meaning of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019) and, where requested to do so by the competent authority, facilitate the competent authority in engaging in the consultation and requiring the person making a request under paragraph (a) to furnish to the planning authority any specified types of drawings, plans, documents or other information in relation to that request as the competent authority may specify.”.
num: 16
paragraphs: The Fourth Schedule to the Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph 20B:
“20C. The proposed development would cause a serious aircraft noise problem at Dublin Airport including, as appropriate, the area around Dublin Airport significantly affected by aircraft noise.”.
num: 17
paragraphs: The Fifth Schedule to the Act of 2000 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph 17:
“17A. Any conditions relating to measures for the regulation of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport including, as appropriate, the area around Dublin Airport significantly affected by aircraft noise.”.
num: 18
paragraphs: (1) The Act of 2000 is amended, in the Seventh Schedule, paragraph 2, by the deletion of the following:
“—An airport (with not less then 2 million instances of passenger use per annum) or any runway, taxiway, pier, car park, terminal or other facility or installation related to it (whether as regards passenger traffic or cargo traffic).”.
(2) Where, before the relevant day, a person has entered into consultations with the Board under section 37B of the Act of 2000 in relation to a relevant development but no notice under subsection (4)(a) of that section has been served on such person following such consultations, such consultations shall, on and after the relevant day and by virtue of this subsection, cease and, on an after the relevant day, no such notice shall be served on such person.
(3) (a) Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply where, before the relevant day, a notice has been served on a person under section 37B(4)(a) of the Act of 2000 in relation to a relevant development on a person but no related application has been made under section 37E of that Act.
(b) On and after the relevant day, the notice that has been served under section 37B(4)(a) of the Act of 2000 shall, by virtue of this subsection, be deemed to be withdrawn by the Board and—
(i) accordingly, the related application may not be made under section 37E of that Act or, if made, the Board shall refuse to deal with it, and
(ii) the Board shall, as soon as is practicable on or after the relevant day, give notice in writing to the person on whom such notice was served that he or she may not make the related application under section 37E of that Act and the reasons for that.
(c) This subsection shall not be construed as preventing the related application from being proceeded with by way of being made to the appropriate planning authority.
(4) (a) Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply where, before the relevant day, an application has been made under section 37E of the Act of 2000 in relation to a relevant development, but has not yet been determined by, the Board.
(b) On and after the relevant day, the notice that has been served under section 37B(4)(a) of the Act of 2000 that gave rise to the application shall, by virtue of this subsection, be deemed to be withdrawn by the Board and—
(i) accordingly, the Board shall refuse to further deal with the application,
(ii) the Board shall return the application to the person who made it together with any fee that accompanied the application, and
(iii) the Board shall, as soon as is practicable on or after the relevant day, give notice in writing to the person who made the application, and any other person who has made submissions or observations on the application, that the Board will no longer deal with the application and the reasons for that.
(c) This subsection shall not be construed as preventing the application from being proceeded with by way of being made to the appropriate planning authority.
(5) Sections 146B and 146C of the Act of 2000 shall, on and after the relevant day, cease to apply to a decision of the Board to grant permission under section 37G of that Act to a relevant development.
(6) In this section—
“planning authority” means a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Act of 2001;
“relevant day” means the day on which subsection (1) comes into operation;
num: 19
paragraphs: (1) The airport authority shall—
(a) be responsible for introducing any noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions,
(b) ensure that appropriate noise measuring systems are in place at the airport on an ongoing basis, and
(c) take appropriate steps to ensure that all airport users comply with all noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions.
(2) (a) The competent authority may, after consultation with the airport authority, by notice in writing direct the airport authority to install noise measuring systems referred to in subsection (1) (b) at such locations in or outside the airport as are specified in the direction and within such period as is specified in the direction.
(b) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a).
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the airport authority shall, on or before each anniversary of the date of commencement of this section, prepare and adopt a report in writing in the specified form (in this section referred to as a “compliance report”) on the compliance or otherwise of airport users with noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions.
(4) A compliance report shall include—
(a) particulars of failures (if any) to comply with operating restrictions due to changes in flight procedures,
(b) the general criteria applied when distributing and managing traffic at the airport to the extent that those criteria may relate to noise impact,
(c) the data collected by the noise measuring systems referred to in subsection (1)(b),
(d) particulars of failures by airport users to comply with noise mitigation measures and, in addition to the failures referred to in paragraph (a), other failures to comply with operating restrictions (including aircraft flying off track without being directed to do so by the Irish Aviation Authority),
(e) proposals to avoid or reduce the failures referred to in paragraph (a) or (d), or both such failures, including the imposition of financial penalties, and
(f) a non-technical summary of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) (including an analysis of the data referred to in paragraph (c)).
(5) (a) The competent authority may by notice in writing direct the airport authority to give to it such further information, relevant to the matters to which the compliance report relates (or should have related), specified in the direction and within such period as is specified in the direction.
(b) The airport authority shall comply with a direction given to it under paragraph (a).
(6) The competent authority shall publish on its website for inspection by members of the public—
(a) a compliance report, and
(b) the further information (if any) referred to in subsection (5)(a),
as soon as is practicable after it receives the compliance report or further information, as the case may be.
num: 20
paragraphs: (1) In this section—
“relevant day” means the day on which this section comes into operation;
“relevant noise contours” mean—
(a) subject to paragraph (b), on and after the relevant day, areas of noise exposure to which the scheme applied immediately before such day, and
(b) areas of noise exposure determined by the competent authority on or after the relevant day, including such an area which alters or replaces an area referred to in paragraph (a);
“scheme” means a noise insulation scheme put in place by the daa before the relevant day and in force immediately before such day.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), on and after the relevant day, a scheme shall be deemed to be a noise mitigation measure introduced by the competent authority and the provisions of this Act and the Act of 2000 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the scheme accordingly.
(3) On and after the relevant day, the competent authority shall ensure that the scheme applies to all homes located within the relevant noise contours.
num: 21
paragraphs: (1) The competent authority shall monitor—
(a) compliance with noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions, and
(b) the introduction of operating restrictions.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the competent authority shall, on or before each anniversary of the date of commencement of this section, review the effectiveness of the noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) on achieving the noise abatement objective.
(3) (a) The airport authority, or a person upon whom there is a noise impact from the airport, may, by notice in writing given to the competent authority, request the competent authority to review the effectiveness of the noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions (if any) on achieving the noise abatement objective.
(b) The competent authority shall, as soon as is practicable after it receives a request under paragraph (a), respond in writing to the requester.
(c) The competent authority may, at its discretion, comply with a request under paragraph (a).
(4) Where the competent authority is of the opinion, following a review referred to in subsection (2) or (3), that the noise abatement objective is not being achieved, it shall take such action, whether under the Aircraft Noise Regulation or this Act, or both, as it is of the opinion will be effective towards achieving that objective.
num: 22
paragraphs: In sections 23 to 25—
“enforcement notice” means a notice under section 23 (1);
“relevant person” means—
(a) the airport authority, or
(b) an airport user;
“relevant provision” means—
(a) a provision of a noise mitigation measure or operating restriction which is not included in a permission granted under section 34 of the Act of 2000, or
(b) a provision of this Act.
num: 23
paragraphs: (1) Subsection (2) applies where the competent authority is of the opinion (in this section referred to as the “relevant opinion”) that a relevant person—
(a) has failed to comply or fully comply with a relevant provision,
(b) is failing to comply or fully comply with a relevant provision, or
(c) has failed to comply or fully comply with a relevant provision in circumstances that make it likely that the failure will continue or be repeated.
(2) The competent authority may give the relevant person a notice in writing—
(a) stating the relevant opinion,
(b) specifying the relevant provision as to which the competent authority is of that opinion and the reasons why it is of that opinion,
(c) directing the relevant person to take such steps as are specified in the notice to remedy the failure concerned or, as the case may be, the matters occasioning it, and
(d) specifying a period (ending not earlier than the period specified in section 24 within which an application under that section against any directions specified in the notice may be made) within which those steps must be taken.
(3) The steps specified in an enforcement notice to remedy any failure or matter to which the notice relates may be framed so as to afford the relevant person a choice between different ways of remedying the failure or matter, as the case may be.
(4) Where a relevant person to whom an enforcement notice has been given makes an application under section 24 (1) against any direction specified in the notice, the steps specified in the notice need not be taken by the relevant person pending the determination, withdrawal or abandonment of the application.
(5) The competent authority may cancel an enforcement notice by notice in writing given to the relevant person concerned.
(6) Where a relevant person fails to take the steps specified in an enforcement notice given to it, the competent authority may, on notice to the relevant person, apply in a summary manner to the High Court for an order requiring the relevant person to take those steps (or to take such varied or other steps for the like purpose as may be specified in the order), and the High Court—
(a) may—
(i) make the order sought,
(ii) make the order sought subject to such variations to those steps as may be specified in the order, or
(iii) make the order sought subject to such other steps for the like purpose as may be specified in the order,
or
(b) may dismiss the application,
and, whether paragraph (a) or (b) is applicable, may make such order as to costs as it thinks fit in respect of the application.
num: 24
paragraphs: (1) A relevant person to whom an enforcement notice has been given may, on notice to the competent authority, not later than 30 days after being given the notice, apply to the High Court for the cancellation of any direction specified in the notice and, on such an application, the High Court may—
(a) cancel the direction,
(b) confirm the direction, or
(c) vary the direction,
and, whether paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is applicable, make such order as to costs as it thinks fit in respect of the application.
(2) The decision of the High Court on a direction specified in an enforcement notice shall be final save that, by leave of that Court or the Court of Appeal, an appeal by the competent authority or the relevant person, as the case may be, from the decision shall lie to the Court of Appeal on a point of law.
num: 25
paragraphs: Rules of court may make provision for the expedition of the hearing of proceedings under sections 23 and 24.
num: 26
paragraphs: Article 8 of the Aircraft Noise Regulation applies to a new operating restriction—
(a) in the case of this Act—
(i) if no appeal under section 10 is made against a regulatory decision, made under section 9 (15) and which adopts such operating restriction, within the appropriate period within the meaning of section 10 (18), the expiration of such period, or
(ii) if such an appeal is made within such period, the publication on the Board’s website pursuant to section 10 (9)(a)—
(I) of the Board’s decision under section 10 (8)(a) to confirm the relevant regulatory decision (within the meaning of section 10 (18)) concerned, or
(II) of the Board’s decision under section 10 (8)(b) that makes such operating restriction,
or
(b) in the case of the Act of 2000—
(i) if no appeal under section 37 of that Act as read with section 37R of that Act is made, within the appropriate period referred to in section 37(1) of that Act, against a decision under section 34 of that Act on a planning application which, by virtue of section 34B(15) or 34C(16), as the case may be, of that Act incorporates a regulatory decision of the competent authority under section 34B(13)(a) or 34C(14)(a), as the case may be, of that Act, the expiration of such period, or
(ii) if such an appeal is made within such period, the publication on the Board’s website, pursuant to section 37R(7) of that Act—
(I) of the Board’s decision under section 37 of that Act as read with section 37R of that Act to confirm the relevant regulatory decision (within the meaning of section 37R(14) of that Act) concerned, or
(II) of the Board’s decision under section 37 of that Act as read with section 37R of that Act that makes such operating restriction.
num: 27
paragraphs: (1) Where, following a notice given to it under Article 8(1) of the Aircraft Noise Regulation, the European Commission commences a review of the process for the introduction of an operating restriction in accordance with Article 8(3) of that Regulation, the competent authority and the appeal body (if section 26 applies) shall, as soon as is practicable after being requested to do by the Commission, give to the Commission all relevant information concerning the adoption of the new operating restriction the subject of such notice.
(2) Where the competent authority receives a notice from the European Commission under Article 8(3) of the Aircraft Noise Regulation stating that the introduction of the new operating restriction the subject of the notice concerned under Article 8(1) of that Regulation did not follow the process set out in that Regulation, the competent authority shall, as soon as it is practicable after receiving the first-mentioned notice and before introducing such restriction—
(a) examine the first-mentioned notification,
(b) if the competent authority is satisfied that it is necessary to do so, reopen the process for the introduction of such restriction at a point at which the competent authority deems appropriate to do so in light of the first-mentioned notice and proceed with the process from that point in accordance with the Aircraft Noise Regulation and this Act and, if applicable, the Act of 2000, and
(c) if the competent authority still intends to introduce such restriction, inform the European Commission of its intention.
num: 28
paragraphs: (1) The relevant authority may specify the form of documents required for the purposes of this Act or, as appropriate, section 34B, 34C or 37R of the Act of 2000, as it thinks appropriate.
(2) The relevant authority’s power under subsection (1) may be exercised in such a way as to specify 2 or more forms of any document (whether in paper or electronic form or both) referred to in that subsection, whether as alternatives, or to provide for particular circumstances or particular cases, as the relevant authority thinks appropriate.
(3) The form of a document specified under this section shall be—
(a) completed in accordance with such directions and instructions as are specified in the document,
(b) accompanied by such other documents (including a statutory declaration) as are specified in the document, and
(c) if the completed document is required to be provided to—
(i) the relevant authority,
(ii) another person on behalf of the relevant authority, or
(iii) any other person,
so provided in the manner (if any) specified in the document.
(4) In this section, “relevant authority” means—
(a) the competent authority in the case of a document required by this Act, or section 34B, 34C or 37R of the Act of 2000, to be given to the competent authority, or
(b) the Board in the case of a document required by this Act, or section 34B, 34C or 37R of the Act of 2000, to be given to the Board in its capacity as the appeal body.
num: 29
paragraphs: (1) Subsection (2) applies to a condition (in this section referred to as a “relevant condition”) contained in or attached to a permission granted under the Act of 2000 before the commencement of this section to the extent that—
(a) in the case of such a condition in effect immediately before such commencement and which will continue to have effect on and after such commencement, the condition reduces the noise impact of a noise problem at the airport, and
(b) in the case of such a condition which will come into effect on or after such commencement, the condition will, on and after coming into effect, reduce the noise impact of a noise problem at the airport.
(2) On the commencement of this section, a relevant condition shall be deemed to be a noise mitigation measure and the provisions of this Act (other than Part 2) and the Act of 2000 (in particular, sections 34B and 34C of the Act of 2000) shall apply to such noise mitigation measure accordingly.
num: 30
paragraphs: (1) Subsection (2) applies to a condition (in this section referred to as a “relevant condition”) contained in or attached to a permission granted under the Act of 2000 before the commencement of this section to the extent that—
(a) in the case of such a condition in effect immediately before such commencement and which will continue to have effect on and after such commencement, the condition limits access to or reduces the operational capacity of the airport, and
(b) in the case of such a condition which will come into effect on or after such commencement, the condition will, on and after coming into effect, limit access to or reduce the operational capacity of the airport.
(2) On the commencement of this section, a relevant condition shall be deemed to be an operating restriction and the provisions of this Act (other than Part 2) and the Act of 2000 (in particular, sections 34B and 34C of the Act of 2000) shall apply to such operating restriction accordingly.