Gillian Toole

Overall sentiment: 0.04
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100. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport the reason a health research report of April 2025, the health costs report on aircraft noise from Dublin Airport, compiled by a person (details supplied), submitted by Fingal and Meath residents, is being ignored and corrective action avoided, in view of the recent report by the European Environment Agency of 9 January 2026 in the European Heart Journal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3290/26]

Sentiment score: -0.19

My question relates to the health costs report on aircraft noise from Dublin Airport, which was submitted in April 2025, and estimated costs per annum of €800 million. They are significant health costs. How and why is that being ignored in light of the European Environment Agency report in the European Heart Journal of 9 January this year?

Sentiment score: -0.04

I acknowledge the opportunities to meet the Minister. The findings of this European report are stark, estimating 16 premature deaths per 100,000. The information in that report of April 2025 is vitally important. As a matter of correction, in April 2024, ANCA sought noise data information from DAA. It was declined, citing judicial review proceedings, which is wholly inaccurate. That information is vitally important relative to the April report and the more recent report. As the Minister and I both know, there actually is a solution which was put forward by the north runway technical group, namely adherence to the 2007 An Bord Pleanála planning permission for flights departing off the north runway to fly five nautical miles straight out. The reality is that the flights departing from the north runway are turning after 400 m. Simple adherence to the planning permission and the current legislation would solve this problem for 30,000 of the Minister's and my constituents.

Sentiment score: 0.18

Go raibh maith agat arís for the reply. This is a matter of absolute importance. There is no denying the economic benefit and employment opportunities for an island nation in connecting people, goods and places. The good neighbour policy and the mission statement of the DAA board is being completely ignored when there is a viable solution. The capacity for flight path resolution is probably not within AirNav, but Bratislava is well capable and is amply employed by other jurisdictions in constructing flight paths. Again, it probably should not even have to go to Bratislava, if the conditions of the 2007 planning permission are met. I can even show the Minister graphically here, and he probably has the information already, what is happening versus what was planned. There is a so-called environmental corridor, which is a term that was created by the DAA, but it was never approved. There are multiple issues here but we have solutions that were offered almost a year ago. I appreciate the Minister's input.

Sentiment score: 0.20