Call to retrofit Kildare council homes impacted by 'noise transfer'
Áras Chill Dara
Noise transfer in older council apartments in the Athy area is a “huge problem”, according to a local councillor.
Cllr Veralouise Behan asked Kildare County Council at the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District to confirm “if it carries out audits on structural noise transfer in council in this municipal district?”.
The council’s response was that their housing maintenance department does not carry out audits on noise transfer.
The response noted that the current legal standards – set out in the Housing (Standards for rented Houses) Regulations 2019 - do not require landlords to carry out any such audit.
Cllr Behan noted that noise transfer is not as much of a problem in newer builds but said that in older apartments “there is an issue with structural noise transfer - particularly in apartments overhead noise is a huge problem. For some families, living with this kind of imposition in their lives is very disruptive”.
Cllr Behan gave her view that the issue should be considered with regards to the home retrofit scheme, noting that “when you have sound transfer you also have heat transfer”.
Cllr Mark Leigh – operating as Cathaoirleach for the meeting in the absence of cllr Ivan Ketaley – suggested that cllr Behan bring the matter up as a motion.
Cllr Behan implied that she may do so if there is appetite “across the floor” for further discussion on the matter.
