Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport which actions under the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems his Department will lead on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48563/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I have raised the issue of the lack of regulation for commercial delivery drones in the House on a number of occasions. Over the summer, the Minister published the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Which of the 16 actions set out within that document fall directly within the remit of the Department of Transport? What is the Minister's action plan regarding the implementation of those actions?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Gorman. He has indeed raised this matter here before. I launched the National Policy Framework on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, on 20 August 2025, making Ireland one of the first European Union member states to publish a dedicated policy in relation to drones. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning for, and the development of, the UAS sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while, really importantly, ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental, community and other concerns.

Many of the issues addressed in the policy framework fall directly within my remit and that of the Department of Transport while other issues cross over into the areas of responsibility of other Departments and agencies. The policy framework was developed through cross-departmental engagement structures and will be implemented through similar structures. It proposes a number of structures and actions that aim to address concerns in relation to increasing UAS usage and operations in balance with the realisation of the economic and societal benefits from this emerging drone sector.

The policy framework proposes 16 actions in three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Implementation of the policy framework relies on a cross-governmental approach and the continuation of engagement and support from various Government Departments, agencies, the UAS sector itself and, really importantly, the public.

My Department will shortly be making arrangements for the establishment of a national UAS policy framework monitoring group and the associated working groups to be established under the framework. That monitoring group, which will be chaired by my Department, will monitor, guide and support the implementation of the policy framework and, really importantly, the delivery of actions.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Minister notes that this is the first framework of its type in Europe. I hope the rest of Europe is not going to be taking this document as inspiration because it is deeply disappointing. It fails to deal with the issues I and others have been raising throughout this time. People in my community in Dublin 15 are asking that four fundamental issues be addressed. These are privacy, noise, planning status and safety. There is no clarity in this document as to when these issues are going to be addressed. We are seeing a fundamental societal change in my neighbourhood right now. Thousands of journeys that take place on our roads have moved into the sky. It is not that they are going to move; they are in the sky right now. They are in the sky tonight. The regulatory structure that may well make that okay is not in place. The document the Minister has produced does not give us any clarity on when that regulatory structure will be in place. That is not acceptable.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Deputy's area very well. We have adjacent constituencies. I have spoken to many people in the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area. There has been a change. Many deliveries are being made by drone that would have been made by car, van and other methods. That is another consideration and something to think about. Do we want more traffic or do we want drones? We have to manage that with communities. Deputy Coppinger can laugh all she likes.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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No, I cannot. I am suffering this every day.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Nothing is right with Deputy Coppinger. She suffers everything.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I suffer drones over my head.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The reality is that this is an emerging sector. It is in its infancy. We can be at the leading edge of innovation in this sector. To answer the Deputy's question directly, the implementation of this framework is the whole purpose of the monitoring group. We have to start from somewhere. We are one of the first countries, if not the first, to publish such a framework document. It will be managed within my Department and will report to me. We will have input from communities, as we have already had, from professional operators and from the technological side. It is an advancing industry and sector that we should embrace. It needs to be done in conjunction with communities, however.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I know of no other innovative cutting-edge technology sector where that technology is just let loose without any regulatory structures being put in place.

This is new and innovative. Maybe it is a good thing but it has been allowed to happen without regulation. There is no regulation or clarity on whether planning permission is required for a drone base. There is no way to deal with noise complaints. When representatives of Dublin City Council came before a committee, they were very clear. Section 108 of the EPA Act stops the council from dealing with noise pollution.

Can I draw the attention of the Minister to actions 15 and 16, which state that the UAS sector, in conjunction with the Irish Aviation Authority, will establish and promote relevant test sites and the Irish Aviation Authority will promote processes that allow for the allocation of airspace for experimental and developing UAS operations? There is an experiment taking place in Dublin 15 without any regulatory structures. That is not acceptable and I will work to put in place the regulatory structures the Department is not delivering.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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We are working with the sector, communities and the public. We had a lot of engagement on-----

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is too late. It is already-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Sorry Deputy, you have had your time. The Minister is responding.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on a second. Deputy O'Gorman knows there are regulations in place. They are EU regulations. The IAA is charged with-----

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It does not deal with noise.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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There are regulations. The Deputy has stated on the record of the House that there are no regulations. That is not true. It is incorrect. That might work at a public meeting he is at or hosting with Deputy Coppinger to try to drum up further discontent.

Undoubtedly, there are people impacted by it and that is why we need to ensure that there are proper designated zones and proper planning is followed. This is a sector in its relative infancy, however. It has grown very quickly. The previous Administration and Minister for Transport did not deal with this. In a few short months, I have brought out something we can work with and on which we can base the implementation on which we can base what we do next regarding further regulation in Ireland. We have done that within a very short space of time. Contrast that with my predecessor.