Call for Legislation to Address Drone Invasion in Gardens

Local authorities are facing challenges due to regulatory gaps in laws governing commercial drones, as highlighted in a recent Oireachtas committee meeting.

The Committee on Transport emphasized the urgent need for legislation on planning frameworks and policies related to drone regulation.

There have been calls for the government to introduce planning frameworks and policies to aid local authorities in evaluating drone operation applications.

Dublin City Council's Senior Transportation Officer, Edel Kelly, pointed out the inability of local authorities to regulate drone noise due to its exclusion from the Environmental Protection Agency Act.

The absence of national-level policy or guidance for commercial drones is posing significant hurdles for local authorities, according to Ms. Kelly.

During the committee session, concerns were raised by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger regarding noise issues caused by commercial drones in her Dublin West constituency.

She described the situation as a 'wild west' for residents due to drone noise and emphasized the need for consent and approval for drone activities in residential areas.

Manna Chief Executive Bobby Healy reported receiving 108 complaints this year, with 22% coming from customers, while highlighting the environmental benefits of drone delivery.

Healy mentioned ongoing efforts to develop quieter technology and expressed readiness to comply with regulations.

IAA Chief Operating Officer Jim Gavin praised Ireland's leading role in drone regulation and highlighted the strict security and safety measures in place.

Currently, there are over 8,000 drone operators and 23,000 remote pilots registered with the IAA, Gavin informed the committee.

According to the source: RTE.ie.