Mixed reaction as drone delivery era comes to Dundrum

The drone revolution has come to Dundrum – and not everyone is pleased.

Drones have become a common sight and sound across the skies of Dublin 15 in recent times, and now the omnipresent noise is coming to Dundrum.

Drone company Manna is bringing its drone delivery services to Dundrum, but there has been local pushback to the plans.

Blanchardstown-based firm Manna has been using Dublin 15 as a testing ground for commercial drone delivery since 2024, with Silicon Republic reporting that 170,000 food deliveries have been carried out since the service launched.

While the firm has come to prominence for its quick delivery of fast food, Bloomberg has reported that the company is looking to branch out into other areas such as grocery and more general retail services.

Before taking on the world, the company wants to expand its services to the Southside, but not before facing opposition from local residents and politicians.

Most notably, local Fianna Fáil TD Shay Brennan has lodged an objection to a planned drone delivery hub in Dundrum.

The hub would be located at the rear of Main Street, near the Holy Cross Church, and Brennan said in his objection, “there is a strong sense locally that the interests of a small group of commercial operators could be prioritised over the needs of thousands of residents in this densely populated area.”

“The prospect of drones flying overhead has created real anxiety, particularly among young families, older people, and those working from home.”

“Residents fear the cumulative impact of frequent drone activity will erode the character and amenity of the Dundrum area. The need for quiet, safe, and enjoyable neighbourhoods must take precedence over the convenience of faster delivery services.”

The Dublin Rathdown TD said, “I fully support innovation and I want to see Irish companies thrive, but we cannot allow drone delivery hubs to pop up unchecked, without listening to those who will be most affected. We need a clear plan that protects our community’s peace, privacy, and safety.”

He said that without proper safeguards, drone delivery could bring constant noise from low-flying devices over homes, schools, and community spaces; invade the privacy of residents as drones pass over gardens and properties; and create safety risks in areas not designed for such activity, all while regulation struggles to keep up.

“This is a fast-moving industry, and that’s why it’s vital we have transparent processes where residents can have their voices heard. I’m calling for a formal public consultation so we can shape solutions that work for both business and community.”

“It’s fantastic to see an Irish company like Manna leading the way in drone technology. I’d love to see more Irish entrepreneurs driving innovation in this sector, they are shaping the future, and we should be proud to back them, however we must strike a balance.”

Brennan stressed he wasn’t opposed to the idea on principle, noting that “with new technology, the innovation arrives first, and the laws follow after.”

“That’s why we need to get ahead of this now, not after problems arise,” he said.

“Let’s embrace new technology, but let’s do it responsibly. This can’t be a scattergun approach. It’s about balance, fairness, and protecting the quality of life for residents.”

Since this story appeared in print, Brennan has announced that a public meeting will be held on August 20th to discuss the service in Dundrum.

Brennan said, “the meeting will give residents a chance to access accurate information, engage directly with Manna, and explore both the benefits and concerns around potentially introducing this service to the community.”

“After meeting with Manna at their headquarters in Glasnevin to relay residents’ concerns, they agreed that their CEO, Bobby Healy, who is local to Dundrum would attend a public meeting to address these issues directly with the community. He will attend in person to listen to residents and respond to their questions.”

“Having public consultation is a vital step towards shaping rules that work for both businesses and communities. What we’re doing here in Dundrum could serve as a model for how drone technology operators engage with communities across the country. Each community will have its own concerns, and public consultation must be central to the development of future regulations.”

“This is about transparent communication. It’s an opportunity for residents to express their views and for Manna to listen and respond. We need a constructive dialogue that leads to a deeper understanding of how to responsibly integrate emerging technologies into residential communities,” he said. 

Local Green councillor Robert Jones has said the ball is in the court of Manna CEO Bobby Healy.

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council is making it clear that the community must be heard, and that vague or generic responses won’t cut it,” Jones said.

Jones cited a report from the council’s biodiversity officer, which found the application from Manna to be “ecologically inadequate.”

“The officer’s report states that biodiversity has been entirely overlooked and that crucial information is missing — including flight paths, drone volumes, and ecological impact assessments.”

Jones noted, “these are not minor technical gaps; the application fundamentally fails to address how this drone operation could affect residents, wildlife and sensitive habitats”

“The ball is in Mr Healy’s court. If Manna wants to be part of this community, they must come and talk to people on the ground, not just fly over them,” he said.

Green leader Roderic O’Gorman, whose own Dublin West constituency is the site of consistent drone deliveries, has raised the issue a number of times in the Dáil so far this year.

Speaking in the Dáil in February, O’Gorman said, “each of these drones has a camera on it to oversee the drop of the paper bag. It is not meant to be switched on for the journey, but just when the bag is being dropped. This is a camera operated by a live pilot back at the base. Who knows if it is on or off? We do not know.”

“These things are flying over our homes all the time with a camera, and we have no idea if that camera is on or off, so there is a real privacy concern there,” the Green TD noted.

Prior to the Dáil breaking for summer recess, Fine Gael TD Maeve O’Connell expressed concerns about Manna’s planning application as it currently stands.

O’Connell specifically took issue with the drone being located near a local church.

She told Taoiseach Micheál Martin, “it cannot be the case that we expect a funeral group, who expect calm and peace in their local church, to find themselves contending with the noise and buzzing of drones taking off and coming down right next door.”

“I ask that, when the Minister publishes these guidelines, he takes into account our religious and community spaces and tries to provide some level of protection for them.”

O’Connell’s Fine Gael colleague Emer Currie has first-hand experience of the noise and hassle that comes with drone deliveries, with her Dublin West constituency covering Dublin 15.

Sharing O’Gorman’s concerns about the impact drone deliveries are having locally, she said, “we need to find the balance between new technology and residential amenity.”

“The framework will have to roadmap how the public can access information and engage with oversight bodies about drone activity in their area, as well as plans around noise monitoring, planning requirements and airspace management. Dublin residents don’t want another M50 in the sky,” she stated.

Speaking in the Dáil in February, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said that there is a suite of legal frameworks, both at Irish and EU levels, surrounding the usage of drones for commercial purposes.

He said that Ireland has the potential to be a leader in the field of commercial drone delivery, but acknowledged that a balance must be struck between technological innovation and keeping people’s privacy safe.

Canney added that a policy framework surrounding drones would be published by the government in the coming months and will work to include feedback from a public consultation, which was carried out in 2024.

Despite giving assurances that updated government legislation surrounding drone framework would be published before the Dáil’s summer recess, this did not come to pass, meaning that drone legislation in Ireland concerning unmanned aircraft does not reflect or contain specific language surrounding commercial drone delivery.

Both government and opposition TDs from the Northside have united in their apathy to drone deliveries; now it appears the issue is uniting government and opposition alike on the Southside, too.