Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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290. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what regulation exists regarding the use of drones for delivery services within urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8097/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, 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 in Ireland.

The primary regulations that govern the use drones are made under Regulation EU 2018/1139 on common rules in the field of civil aviation (known as the Basic Regulation). There are two drone-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.

The aim of the EU drone regulations is to achieve the same level of safety for drone operations as in manned aviation. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the civil aviation regulator in the State, oversees the implementation of the EU drone regulations and standards.

The EU drone regulations are operation centric and focus on the risk of operations so the requirements for low risk operations are less onerous than for higher risk operations. Under the EU regulatory regime, drone operations are classified into three broad categories – Open, Specific and Certified - with different regulatory considerations applied across each category.

Commercial drone delivery operations are closely regulated. Drone delivery operations like those in Dublin 15 fall into the medium risk “specific” category, which require specific authorisation by the IAA. This type of authorisation is recognised in all EU Member States. To obtain an operational authorisation, an operator must provide a comprehensive safety portfolio which includes assessing and addressing both ground and air risks with appropriate mitigations.

There is also a European regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, 2021/665, and 2021/666) that allows for the safe development of the drone services market, including drone delivery, and the integration of drones into our airspace. The U-space Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/664) emerged to support commercial operations with drones, especially those entailing greater complexity and automation, to provide for the safe integration of a number of drone flights in a volume of airspace. Essentially, U-space is an area of airspace where drone operations may only occur with the support of U-space services. At a minimum these must include network identification, traffic management, flight authorisation and geo-awareness. U-space full services are not envisaged until 2030.

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 IAA and provides for arrangements between an Garda Síochána and the IAA in relation to enforcement of EU drone regulations. It also includes a section on Privacy Rights which draws the attention of drone operators to prepare a Data Protection Impact Assessment, where required, in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

In addition to complying with EU drone regulations, drone operators must also comply with national laws, including environmental, planning and, as mentioned, privacy laws.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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291. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what contact has been made with his Department by drone delivery service providers on the use of drones for delivery services within urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8098/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the independent body responsible for the oversight and regulation of Irish civil aviation. As the civil aviation regulator, the IAA has regular engagement with the entities that it regulates, including drone delivery service providers.

The Department of Transport is responsible for overall national civil aviation policy matters in the State. In the context of developing a national policy framework for drones, the Department engaged with the drone industry, including drone delivery service providers, in order to gain an understanding of the sector. The Department held a targeted stakeholder consultation and a public consultation on the development of the policy framework. Submissions were received from a variety of sources, including private citizens, local authorities, representative bodies and drone service providers. The background work for the policy framework also included site visits by departmental officials to drone service providers, including a visit to a drone delivery service provider.