TDs call for clarity on commerical drone regulation

Editor’s note: This article appeared in print before Manna announced they were ceasing operations in Dublin 15. This piece appears as it originally did in print.

Dublin Rathdown TDs Shay Brennan and Maeve O’Connell have said that the issue of drone regulation needs to be sorted once and for all.

Last week, planning permission was rejected for a planned drone delivery hub in Dundrum; the plans, first announced in mid-2025, would have seen drones over the skies of Dublin 18.

A similar delivery scheme has caused major controversy in Dublin 15, with local residents complaining about noise and potential privacy issues.

Off the back of this, planning permission for the Southside delivery hub – which was slated to be located at the rear of Main Street, close to Holy Cross Church – was rejected by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council.

Fianna Fáil TD Shay Brennan said the refusal to grant planning permission was the “right decision.”

“From the beginning, I have maintained that the need for quiet, safe and enjoyable neighbourhoods must take precedence over the convenience of faster delivery services,” Brennan said.

“Residents have raised genuine concerns about the cumulative impact of frequent drone activity and the effect it could have on the character and amenity of the Dundrum area. Unfortunately, the planning application did not adequately address these concerns.”

The Fianna Fáil TD noted that “technology is changing fast and it is essential that we embrace the opportunities it provides,” but he added “we must ensure that new technologies are implemented in a way that respects our values and our communities.”

“I fully support innovation and I want to see Irish companies thrive, but we cannot allow drone delivery hubs to be developed without proper engagement with those who will be most affected, namely local residents. We need a clear framework that protects our community’s peace, privacy and safety.”

Brennan left the door open for future collaboration between drone company Manna, which operates the controversial Dublin 15 drone delivery service.

It is fantastic to see Irish companies like Manna leading the way in emerging technologies, and the state and local authorities should play a role in supporting them where possible.

“I believe greater collaboration between the state, local authorities and communities is needed to enable these new technologies in a responsible way, ensuring that the public can benefit from innovation while maintaining trust and protecting local quality of life,” Brennan said.

Fine Gael TD Maeve O’Donnell said the whole affair should be the impetus to address the issue of commercial drone usage.

O’Donnell remarked that at present, regulation of commercial drone activity is “like the Wild West.”

The decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to refuse a planning application for the opening of a drone delivery hub has highlighted the need to address commercial drone usage once and for all, a Fine Gael TD has said.

O’Connell said, “the National Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems currently delegates policy decisions to local authorities across the country. It is unreasonable to expect local authorities to apply planning laws that were designed for homes, roads and shops to apply to air-based developments.”

“All this will result in is piecemeal policy, where drone operators can be subject to one set of rules on one side of the Dodder River and another set for the other. This is unfair on everyone; it’s unfair on local residents and it’s unfair on businesses,” she said.

O’Connell criticised the current legislation for drone usage, titled the National Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

She said the legislation has been a “letdown” for communities across Dublin, and for drone operators.

“We must develop a national standard that decides once and for all what the plan is for our skies,” she said.

“How many drones do we want flying overhead, at what heights, at what size, and delivering what products? All of this remains to be teased out, despite the framework acting as a de facto set of guidelines.”

“Without a clear set of rules and proper governance, there will continue to be applications going in for hubs beside churches and other private areas, which will lead to more frustration for local residents as they await decisions for which there is very little precedence,” she said.

O’Connell said “there is absolutely a role for drones in our society,” noting their potential usage in traffic monitoring, building inspections, and carrying out emergency medical deliveries

“Nobody is asking for their homes and communities to be flightpaths or hubs for drones; that’s why I am calling on the Department of Transport to develop a national standard, to provide clarity for drone businesses and assurances to residents that fair standards will be upheld and properly managed.”