The operator of Dublin Airport has been ordered to reduce the number of night-time flights from its new north runway.
The order came after Fingal County Council ruled it had breached the conditions of its planning permission.
The runway, which opened last August, has been a huge source of noise complaints from local residents, many of whom unexpectedly found their homes were along its flight path.
The council served DAA, the semi-State body which operates the airport, an enforcement order in recent days, ruling that the number of night-time flights from the runway amounted to “unauthorised development”.
When the airport received approval for the new runway a condition was attached that the average number of flights between 11pm and 7am could not exceed 65 a night.
However, in a letter dated July 27th, the council said the airport’s summer schedule of flights was in breach of these limits. The council had previously issued the DAA warning letters over night-time flights on foot of complaints from locals.
The enforcement notice said the reason for the conditions on the number of night-time flights was to protect the “residential amenity” of the area.
The council gave the airport operator six weeks to comply with its planning conditions.
In a statement, the DAA said it was “disappointed” by the council’s decision and that it had only been given six weeks to limit flights to at most 65 a night. It said the order was coming “in the middle of the peak summer holiday season”.
