Challenge brought against noise levels at Dublin Airport

High Court reporters

Two environmental protection groups have launched a High Court challenge aimed at overturning the Minister for Housing's direction that measures to mitigate noise levels generated by aircraft at Dublin Airport be removed from Fingal County Council's development plan.

The action has been brought by the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and SMTW Environmental DAC, which is a body set up to represent residents of St Margrets and the Ward in North Co Dublin in legal, environmental and planning matters, such as noise generated by Dublin Airport.

The action centres over the council's decision to include a reference in the development plan to the effect that measures should be taken to ensure that noise levels produced by aircraft during nighttime are reduced and are in keeping with certain defined standards.

The proposed reference also said that certain noise insulation schemes in areas in proximity to the airport should be expanded due to the adverse effects associated with aircraft noise such as increased mortality, stress, high blood pressure and a deterioration in cardiovascular health.

It is claimed that the Minister removed the reference on grounds including that it is inconsistent with the National Planning Framework, which guides strategic planning and development for the country over the coming decades.

The Minister's direction was made in June after concerns were expressed by the Office of the Planning Regulator which review the organisation, systems and procedures applied by planning authorities in their performance of their planning functions.

In their action, the groups claim the Minister's direction to remove the reference is invalid, contains material errors, is wrong in law, is irrational and is unreasonable.

The Ministerial direction is further invalided, the groups argue, because the proposed plan adopted by the council was consistent with EU regulations and National Policy objectives regarding aircraft noise.

The Minister, it is also claimed, also failed to provide adequate reasons for making the direction, and has breached the two group's rights to fair procedures.

In their judicial review action against the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland and the Attorney General, the groups, who are represented by John Kenny Bl instructed by solicitor Fred Logue, seek various orders and declarations.

These include an order quashing the direction contained in part of the council's development plan for 2023-2028 and a declaration that the Ministerial direction is invalid and unconstitutional.

The Office of the Planning Regulator, Fingal County Council and the Dublin Airport Authority Public Limited Company are notice parties to the proceedings.

The matter was briefly mentioned, on an ex-parte basis, before Mr Justice Micheal 'Higgins during Wednesday's vacation sitting of the High Court.

After deeming the matter formally opened, the judge adjourned the action to a date in October.