Today, An Coimisiún Pleanála, has granted planning permission to the daa to increase the number of flights from approximately 65 per night to 95 flights per night. The north runway cannot be used from midnight to 6.00am. There are a number of noise restrictions in place depending on the plane in question.
There will be mixed reaction to the decision which will see up to more than a 46% increase on the night time activity but it will allow more flexibility at the Dublin airport. In the announcement today, granting permission ‘with revised conditions’ with over 18 parties would have been informed of the decision. Those listed included the daa, various individuals and organisations including, Saint Margaret’s The Ward Residents Group, Niamh Maher.
Local residents say they are disappointed by the decision. Niamh Maher, a spokesperson for St Margaret’s The Ward Residents Group, said the decision does not address the impact that aircraft noise has on communities surrounding Dublin Airport.
Picture above, Niamh Maher, has spoken several times to us at Meath Live, trying to live under the flight path of the North Runway in the last number of years. She said ”the increase in night time flights will have a negative impact on peoples’ ability to sleep and that the decision does not take into consideration the health impact on those suffering sleep disturbance as a result of aircraft noise.
