Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any plans to introduce new regulations and-or guidelines on the use of commercial drones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36955/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of both the recreational and commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS - drones) is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable here.

The primary regulations that govern the use drones are made under the Regulation EU 2018/1139 on common rules in the field of civil aviation (known as the Basic Regulation). There are two UAS-specific regulations made under the Basic Regulation namely: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the procedures and rules for the operation of unmanned aircraft and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft and on third country operators of unmanned aircraft systems.

Regulation (EU) 2019/947 sets operational rules that apply to both professional drone operators and those flying drones for leisure.

Regulation (EU) 2019/945 sets the common EU-wide technical requirements for drones, the features and capabilities that drones must have in order to be flown safely and, at the same time, help foster investment and innovation in this sector, through a harmonised framework across the European Union.

These EU UAS regulations are operation centric and focus on the risk of UAS operations, i.e. the requirements for low risk operations are less onerous than for higher risk operations. Under the EU regulatory regime, drones are categorised under three broad types – Open, Specific and Certified, with different regulatory considerations applied across each UAS type.

At a national level, S.I. No. 24 of 2023 (Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) Order 2023) came into force on 2 February 2023. It replaces S.I. No. 563 of 2015 (Irish Aviation Authority (Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets) Order 2015). It restates the investigative and enforcement powers of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the competent authority responsible for the safety oversight of UAS activities and operations in the State. It also provides for arrangements between an Garda Síochána and the IAA in relation to enforcement of UAS regulations.

From an aviation safety perspective there are no plans to introduce new regulations at national level on the use of commercial drones.