Noise Complaint Statistics 2024/25 report released
Date published:
The ‘Noise Complaint Statistics 2024/25’ report has been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
The purpose of this report is to inform central government, district councils, the general public and any other interested parties as to the number and nature of noise complaints received between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025 by district councils across Northern Ireland.
Key points from report:
- Figures collated by district councils show that a total of 9,716 complaints were received in 2024/25, down 9% compared to the previous year’s figure (10,684). 9 out of the 11 councils reported a decrease in complaints on the previous year.
- The greatest number of complaints received were from Belfast City District Council (13.18 complaints per 1,000 people) and the fewest complaints received were from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (1.95 per 1,000 people).
- 78% of the total complaints received by the district councils were investigated and deemed unsubstantiated, 16% were substantiated but resolved without serving a notice and 6% had investigations ongoing at the time the data was received.
- There has been a 6% decrease in the number of notices served in 2024/25 compared to last year (153 served in 2024/25 and 162 served in 2023/24). There were four prosecutions for the 2024/25 year compared to three prosecutions in 2023/24.
- The report’s findings show that the majority of complaints to councils concern the following types of noise:
- Domestic noise – 74.88%
- Commercial and Leisure – 11.54%
- Noise in the street – 4.26%
- Construction – 3.61%
- Transport – 2.92%
- Industrial – 2.78%
Notes to editors:
- All queries regarding the statistics should be referred to the relevant district council.
- DAERA collates the figures on the numbers of complaints which have been provided to it by the district councils. Thus, the Department is not in a position to comment on trends or specific findings.
- The domestic noise sources most complained about in 2024/25 is animal noise which accounted for 41% of domestic noise complaints. Music, televisions and parties represents 33% of domestic noise complaints.
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