Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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280. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his Department is working to implement an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system, known as U-space, to support the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems with manned aviation; what actions have been taken to implement a UTM; the estimated timeline for its rollout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16623/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing additional funding to accelerate the rollout of an unmanned traffic management system, known as U-space, in response to the rapid expansion of commercial drone operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the Irish Aviation Authority will require additional radio spectrum allocation to implement an unmanned traffic management system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16625/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 281 and 282 together.

A European regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, 2021/665, and 2021/666) allows for the safe development of the drone services market, including drone delivery, and the integration of drones into our airspace.

The European 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.

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. The purpose of U-space is to achieve automated UAS management and integration, allowing for a large series of operations, many of them simultaneous. This must work alongside the current air traffic management (ATM) system. U-space full services are not envisaged until 2030.

There are a number of challenges to be addressed before unmanned traffic management system, or U-space, itself can be established. The U-space framework introduces a service for network remote identification that will be mandatory for all UAS operators wishing to operate in U-space airspace. There is also a requirement for a geo-awareness service to provide UAS operators with information about static and dynamic airspace information and constraints. Further steps in the implementation of U-space include the designation of U-space airspace, the certification of U-space Service Providers (USSPs) and Common Information Service Providers (CISPs). The U-space regulation leaves it up to each State to designate U-space airspace and to choose the model of provision of U-space services (centralised or distributed). The implementation of U-space will require the adoption of high-level strategic decisions and possible regulatory developments, as well as close collaboration, cooperation, and coordination with relevant State entities and the UAS sector itself.

Experience from other European states indicates that the implementation of U-space takes a minimum of two to five years depending on the complexity and number of potential designated U-space airspace blocks.

The Department of Transport and the IAA are initiating a programme of work to identify the requirements, timeline, and costs of a U-space delivery programme. As a first step the Irish Aviation Authority has established a dedicated Airspace and U-space Division that will work closely with the current IAA UAS and Air Navigation Services Divisions on the establishment and oversight of an unmanned air traffic management system.

The IAA is also collaborating with Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software, Maynooth University, Dublin City Council and UAS industry bodies on a project, the Drone Innovation Partnership, that will inform the development of a unmanned air traffic management system in the Dublin city region.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to finalising and implementing a National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones). The framework is to guide high-level strategic planning and development of the drone sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental and other concerns. The upcoming policy framework addresses the implementation of U-space. It is envisaged that the policy framework will be published in the coming months.