Dublin Airport Residents Cite Constant Health Issues

It's claimed the health of over 120,000 people has been impacted by noise from Dublin airport.  A report commissioned by residents living close to the airport suggests the cost of health impacts is estimated at around €800 million.

This report was prepared on behalf of St Margarets The Ward Residents Group, which has been campaigning for sustainable and environmentally sound management at Dublin Airport. The report outlined that 120,696 people were affected with health issues.

Based on figures provided by the airport noise regulator last year, it states that just under 71,500 local residents were “highly annoyed” and 32,500 were “highly sleep disturbed” due to aircraft noise.

The report adds that while Dublin’s share of the population of the State stands at 28.3% it carries 85% of aircraft passengers traffic.

Meanwhile, Dublin Airport has launched a new noise information portal providing details on flights to local communities.

The Dublin Airport noise information portal is the latest online tool designed to enhance transparency and communication with neighbouring communities by providing accurate and timely location-based information on airport operations and noise management.

The ‘InsightFull’ technology will allow people to undertake detailed analysis of the noise situation at their location, improving understanding and enabling comparison with other locations. This complements daa’s existing online tools for local residents including:

· The ‘Maploom’ tool launched last October that makes it easier and quicker for the public to check whether they are eligible for the airport’s extensive insulation and home buy-out schemes.

· The WebTrak portal providing near-live flight and noise information, as well as a simplified complaint submission process.

Investing in innovative tools is part of daa’s ongoing investment in noise mitigation measures at Dublin Airport, with over €20 million spent to date including insulation schemes and purchasing eligible local homes. Key measures include:

1. · Almost 230 local residences most affected are eligible for insulation schemes, with insulation delivered to 186 homes to date.
2. · The announcement in January of an additional grant scheme means up to 400 more homes will be offered a €30k grant for insulation.
3. · A voluntary buy-out option has been offered to 41 homeowners in the vicinity of the airport, which offers 30% premium on current market value, in addition to generous allowances for stamp duty, conveyancing and moving costs. Six purchases have been completed so far, with a further 14 in the process.
4. · Insulation works have been completed at three local schools, with works commencing in Q2 2025 at a further two schools.
5. · To help monitor aircraft noise, 25 fixed noise monitors and two mobile monitors have been installed at locations throughout counties Dublin, Meath and Wicklow. These monitors help Dublin Airport to monitor aircraft noise in communities and understand the impact. · Noise levels at each of these monitors can be viewed on Dublin Airport’s WebTrak.
6. · daa also seeks to reduce noise levels through penalising older, noisier planes that use Dublin Airport and through aircraft operating procedures that reduce noise levels.

Kenny Jacobs, daa CEO, said: "We know that airport operations impact the community around us and we take that seriously. We have to strike a balance between operating a major international airport and ensuring Ireland has the connectivity it needs, with the needs of those living close to the airport. That’s always going to be difficult, but we are constantly working to minimise the impact and listen to community feedback.

“Our 2024 community survey showed strong support for the airport, but highlighted people want more transparency, openness, and access to information. The Dublin Airport noise information portal is the latest addition to our online engagement tools which we hope is useful to our local community and empowers them to interact with the airport. By providing accurate and timely information online, we can continue to build stronger relationships with our neighbours and address their concerns more effectively.

“We also continue to expand the supports and mitigation measures available to those most impacted by airport operations, with €20 million invested to date. We’re also delighted to support community groups through our €10 million Dublin Airport Community Fund which distributed €500,000 to more than 100 local groups last year and will do so again in 2025. We are committed to being good neighbours and to contributing positively to the community through the jobs and economic impact we create and by listening to community concerns.” Independent research conducted by Red C on behalf of Dublin Airport in 2024 showed community sentiment towards Dublin Airport is generally very positive. There is support for the expansion of Dublin Airport among local residents, with net positive support at 77%.