Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the progress in preventing air traffic disruption from drones. [20733/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Irish airports have procedures in place to handle the risk posed by illegal drone activity, developed in accordance with guidance on managing drone safety risk issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Safety critical areas are defined, and a risk assessment is maintained at our airports. These procedures have been reviewed and revised where necessary in light of lessons learned from the drone incursions at Dublin airport.

daa is expediting the deployment of additional counter drone technology to complement the already functioning drone detection system at the airport. The deployment of counter drone technology at Dublin airport by daa is a complex operation and the technology needs to be deployed and operated safely. daa is engaging with the IAA, the aviation safety regulator, which must approve the deployment of the counter drone technology in an airport operating environment. daa is also engaging with ComReg in relation to radio spectrum matters and impact on other spectrum users.

All agencies concerned are working as quickly as possible to conclude their assessment of the equipment and its deployment. This due diligence is necessary from a safety perspective and has been done in every other State where counter drone technology has been deployed.