The Green Party today called for "noise control officers" to be appointed to deal with neighbourhood noise.
Green Party environment spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe
Measures to tackle sound pollution from sources such as building work, car alarms, barking dogs and noisy neighbours are included in a Bill that the Greens hope to put before the Dáil in the autumn.
Party leader Trevor Sargent and environment spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe claim only certain types of noise
can be dealt with by the current Environmental Noise Regulations Act 2006.
Mr Cuffe said: "Under existing rules different agencies are responsible for dealing with noise from different sources. Barking dogs are dealt with by local authority dog control officers; loud music by Health Board's environmental health officers, while the Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for noise from low-flying helicopters.
"In practice none of these agencies are good at moving quickly, and people are forced to go to the district court in a process that can drag on for weeks or months."
Mr Cuffe said noise control officers' would be employed by local authorities and funded by revenue generated from fines.
"They will have the powers to take action 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he added.