The DAA has invested €18m in purchasing homes and insulating properties near Dublin Airport to mitigate noise pollution from aircraft activities, having bought six homes so far under a voluntary dwelling purchase scheme.
Homeowners in affected areas are offered a 30pc premium over current market value for their properties, with 41 homeowners invited to participate in the buyout scheme.
Insulation work has been completed for 170 homes, with an additional 47 offered insulation, and the DAA plans to continue these efforts to balance airport operations with community welfare.
A report from August highlighted increased noise levels affecting more residents than in 2019, although the number of those ‘highly annoyed’ by airport noise decreased by over 38pc in 2023, prompting further noise mitigation initiatives by the airport’s management.
Dublin Airport currently offers three key schemes:
- Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Scheme (VDPS): Homeowners in specific areas can sell their properties to Dublin Airport at a 30% premium above market rate.
- Residential Noise Insulation Scheme (RNIS): Aimed at improving sound insulation in eligible homes near the airport, with noise reduction of 5 to 10 decibels. A 10-decibel reduction is typically perceived as halving the noise level.
- School Insulation Scheme (SIS): Provides noise insulation to schools and pre-schools, ensuring classroom noise levels do not exceed 45dB LAeq over an 8-hour school day.
Eligibility for these schemes is determined by specific noise contours, clearly displayed on Maploom.
daa, as part of a package of measures submitted in support of its application to change the operating hours of the North Runway, has also proposed to bring in a new Residential Sound Insulation Grant Scheme, which would see up to 600 more homes becoming eligible for a grant of up to €20,000 for noise insulation measures.
Dublin Airport Managing Director Gary McLean shared: “The launch of the new Maploom tool will make it easier than ever for people to check if they are eligible for any of our schemes. Dublin Airport is a significant employer and economic contributor to the areas immediately surrounding the airport, and we’re very conscious that our operations can have an impact on those living and going to school nearby. We’ve already done a huge amount of work and spent a significant amount of money to reduce that impact, and we’re fully committed to doing even more. Every week, members of the airport team are visiting the homes and schools of our neighbours to listen, learn and discuss how we can help them. The reaction to the new Maploom tool has been really positive and will be beneficial to many in our local communities.”
Supporting information on all available schemes can be found here on the Dublin Airport website.
Dublin Airport’s €10m Community Fund
DAA also recently announced that its Dublin Airport’s Community Fund has hit the milestone of €2.5 in funding to clubs and community groups in north Dublin.
That total will soon increase further with the Community Fund back open for another round of funding, which will see a further purse of up to €250,000 being distributed to successful applicants. The new autumn funding round will remain open until Friday, October 25.
In 2023, the airport shared over €540,000 between 111 different groups operating in communities surrounding Dublin Airport. A further €250,000 was distributed earlier this year to more than 50 projects as part of the Fund’s spring funding round.
Dublin Airport’s Community Fund was launched in 2017 with a total investment of €10 to be distributed over 25 years. Further information about the Community Fund and case studies of previous recipients can be found here.
