Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline whether AirNav have statutory responsibility for regulating our airspace, particularly in relation to the use of unmanned aircraft systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36612/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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On 1 May 2023, pursuant to the Air Navigation and Transport Act 2022, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was established as the single civil aviation regulator for Ireland. The air navigation service provision functions of the IAA were transferred to the newly established commercial state body AirNav Ireland, which is regulated by the IAA.

The IAA is the competent authority for EU civil aviation safety regulation and oversight, including the oversight of the implementation of the EU drone regulations (Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Regulation (EU) 2019/947).

The European Commission in conjunction with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency developed an enabling regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, 2021/665, and 2021/666) that allows for the safe development of the drone services market and the integration of drones into our airspace. The implementation of an unmanned traffic management system will require the adoption of high-level strategic decisions and regulatory developments, as well as close collaboration, cooperation, and coordination with relevant State entities and the drone sector itself.

The Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems being finalised by my Department proposes a number of structures to provide for this. I hope to publish the policy framework in the near future. In the meantime, the IAA, as the civil aviation safety regulator will continue to oversee drone operations throughout the State, to ensure that the operations are conducted in a safe manner.