Stakeholders are being encouraged to have their say in a major public consultation launched by the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) concerning the future growth of Dublin Airport. The consultation relates to a planning application by daa that would increase the airport’s permitted passenger capacity from 32 million to 40 million passengers annually and introduce a range of supporting infrastructure projects.
The consultation, which opened on 28th May 2026 and runs until 3 September 2026, focuses specifically on the management and mitigation of aircraft noise associated with the proposed expansion. While much public attention has centred on passenger caps and airport capacity, ANCA’s role is to independently assess the aircraft noise implications of the development and ensure appropriate environmental protections are in place.
ANCA, the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, operates as an independent directorate within Fingal County Council. Its responsibility is to monitor the impact of aircraft noise on communities surrounding Dublin Airport and to regulate aircraft noise where necessary. As part of that remit, ANCA evaluates airport development proposals and establishes noise management measures designed to minimise adverse impacts on local residents.
Planning Application
The consultation relates to planning application F23A/0781, submitted by daa to Fingal County Council. The application seeks permission not only to raise Dublin Airport’s annual passenger capacity to 40 million passengers but also to deliver infrastructure improvements under eleven separate project headings. While the planning authority will ultimately decide whether the development proceeds, ANCA is required to assess the aircraft noise consequences of the proposal and issue a regulatory decision setting out any mandatory noise-mitigation measures.
Four Key Areas Under Consultation
The public consultation covers four separate elements:
- The Noise Abatement Objective (NAO) for Dublin Airport
- The Draft Regulatory Decision (DRD) and Report
- Draft Environmental Report for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment of the NAO
- Draft Environmental Report for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Regulatory Decision (RD)
One of the most significant aspects is the proposed update to Dublin Airport’s Noise Abatement Objective. ANCA says the revised objective reflects the future operation of the airport with three runways and establishes what it describes as ambitious goals for managing aircraft noise into the future.
Alongside this, the Draft Regulatory Decision outlines a package of noise-management measures that could be imposed if planning permission is granted. These measures have been developed following ANCA’s assessment of the likely aircraft noise impacts associated with the airport’s proposed expansion.
ANCA has also undertaken Strategic Environmental Assessments of both the revised Noise Abatement Objective and the Draft Regulatory Decision. Screening exercises were carried out to determine whether full Appropriate Assessments under Natura 2000 habitat protection requirements would be necessary. ANCA concluded that full Appropriate Assessments were not required in either case. These environmental reports form an important part of the consultation package and are available for public review alongside the technical documentation supporting the proposed noise-management framework.
For the aviation industry, the consultation represents a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of Dublin Airport’s operating environment. As passenger numbers continue to grow and investment in airport infrastructure progresses, the challenge is to balance the economic and connectivity benefits that aviation delivers with the quality-of-life concerns of communities affected by aircraft operations. The measures eventually adopted by ANCA could influence operational procedures, flight paths, noise management practices, and future airport development strategies for years to come.
The consultation also provides an opportunity for stakeholders including residents’ groups, businesses, and individual airport users to contribute to the conversation before any final regulatory decisions are made.
How to Take Part
Submissions can be made until 5:00 pm on 3rd September 2026 through the Fingal County Council consultation portal, by email, or by post. ANCA has emphasised that late submissions will not be considered and asks participants to submit through only one channel. Importantly, this consultation is separate from the planning process itself. Views submitted to ANCA will be considered in relation to aircraft noise regulation, while comments on the wider planning application must be directed to the Planning Authority through the appropriate planning channels. Following the consultation period, ANCA will review all submissions before issuing its final decision. That decision must then be incorporated into Fingal County Council’s determination on the planning application, whether permission is granted or refused.
