Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish the national policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems before the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34142/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My question is whether the Minister will publish the national policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems, UAS, that is, drones, before the summer recess. As part of that, will he implement U-space regulations that have been applicable in EU states since 2023? U-space provides for the creation of a new, dedicated airspace for drones. It is essentially a traffic management system that could play a critical role when it comes to the proliferation and impact of drones flying over residential areas.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government includes a commitment to finalise and publish a policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones. This will guide high-level strategic planning and development of the drone sector in Ireland through supporting growth, which we want, and innovation, which we also want, while ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental and other concerns.

I am aware that this matter has come up in the Deputy's constituency, especially adjacent to the Blanchardstown Centre area. Work on the drafting of the policy framework has recently been finalised. When I say "recently" I mean I received the draft document last Friday. I am going to review that. I want to make sure I am content with it before I publish it. The policy framework sets out the vision, strategy and priorities for the development of the drone sector in Ireland. There are massive opportunities here and great benefits to it. The framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development of the sector in Ireland over the next decade by supporting growth and innovation, as I said. The framework also seeks to ensure safe and secure operations. Many of the issues that will be addressed by the policy framework fall directly within the remit of the Department of Transport. Some others cross over into areas of responsibility of other Departments. The policy framework has been developed through good cross-departmental engagement structures and it will be implemented through similar structures. The framework was informed by the work of an interagency steering group, its sub-working groups, a targeted stakeholder consultation held in 2022 and a public consultation in held in 2024.

The Deputy asked if I would like to get this published before the summer recess. Yes, I would. However, I want to review it properly. As I said, I only received it late last week. It will give clarity to the sector but it also highlights a lot of the benefits of the UAS sector to the general public.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. It is good to see a bit of a move away from the gobbledegook that has dominated the answers I have had so far on drones. The indecipherable regulation-speak reflects the paralysis and powerlessness large sections of my community feel when they are in their homes and gardens listening to the drones above them. Dublin West is being used as a test ground for commercial drones making food deliveries. There have been 170,000 flights in the past 12 to 18 months and that figure is set to soar. There has been no direct consultation with our community and no meaningful complaint mechanism. The Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, oversees the regulations we have but those are risk-based. They have no teeth when it comes to the impact of drones on residential areas. When we build homes we do not just focus on structural specifications but their place in a community. If we want to erect a bus shelter, there is a planning process. The regulations need to be expanded urgently to cover noise, flight paths, schedules, consultation, feedback mechanisms and investment in public information, because currently it looks and sounds like a free-for-all. The U-space regulations give me the most hope for dealing with that.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I have not commenced my review. I appreciate the points the Deputy has made and take them into account. I listened with interest to a vox pop in Dublin West. I think it was on FM104 last week when I was in the car. There had been complaints made by some public representatives. Then there were interviews with people on the street in Blanchardstown and many of them had different views on the matter. Having said that, this is a sector that will grow. We are seeing the benefits with respect to the delivery of medical aids, lifebuoys and other things. There are great advantages to using drones in an appropriate way. I am aware they have been used for food deliveries and other things and the Dublin West area, especially Blanchardstown, is being used as a test area. We will be informed by people's experiences there. I have not commenced reviewing this. I will, in a short space of time, review it in detail and I am happy to receive further input. We have had the public consultation and I do not intend to open it up again. We need to provide clarity on this and the use of drones.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that there are polarised views and I am also aware of the benefits. My concern is also timing. A corporate entity operating in a space without sufficient regulation will not have the duty of care to communities that is required, and we are seeing that already. A commercial operator in our area is claiming it has received 77 complaints about 170,000 flights, but I would have had that number of complaints in the past seven weeks. Companies are operating within the regulations but that does not make it right. We cannot have a situation where the horse has bolted without the legitimate concerns and rights of residents being addressed. That is just bad planning. I imagine it would have consequences under the Aarhus Convention. If U-space is the answer to getting the balance right, then the IAA needs the funding and resources to implement it now and certainly not in 2030, as some of the replies to parliamentary questions suggest.

While I have the Minister, and maybe a one-word answer would suffice, the legal barriers to DART+ West have been cleared. Will he progress the project and funding it as soon as he can?

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I compliment my colleague from Dublin 15. Representatives from that area have been working on the issue of drones for some time. Griffith Avenue residents have raised it on the basis that drone use is expanding to new areas. While it currently relates to food deliveries, we can only imagine the impact it would have if, for example, all parcel deliveries were to be transferred to drones in a short space of time.

The issue here is also about the planning application for the site. We have time restrictions on when we can have takeaways operating. We also need to have time restrictions on when drone deliveries of all sorts can be used.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to engage with both Deputies on the issue of drones. I want to review the draft document and I will engage with them. I am sure we will be talking to the transport committee about that. This type of technology is here to stay. It is about how it interacts with our communities. There are also major benefits. The Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, have informed me about the use of drones in search and rescue. There are lots of good things there. With food deliveries it is generally people in the area ordering food. There are people who find it of benefit and others who find it butting in on their quality of life.

There is good news on DART+ West and the whole plan with the withdrawal of the judicial review. I want to see this project advanced as quickly as possible. I know Deputy Currie is a big supporter of it, as am I. Deputy Moynihan has an interest in DART+ South West. There is also DART+ Coastal North. The previous Government committed to DART+ in general and it went through the first approval gate. Obviously, the capital review of the NDP is critical to delivery. These projects are critical to Dublin and the greater Dublin area, and I will keep the Deputies informed of progress.