Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

421. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the deployment of counter-drone technology at Dublin Airport, if he will provide data on the number of drones detected and disabled or otherwise neutralised by the DAA on a daily, weekly or monthly basis since the introduction of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41622/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following drone incidents that caused disruption at Dublin airport in early 2023, daa put in place a range of additional measures to counter illegal drone use. This includes a re-examination and updating of its standard operating procedures when drones are detected, an upgrade to its drone detection systems, a review of the safety critical area at the airport and the deployment of counter drone technology. The counter drone technology was deployed following a Government Decision on the matter and when the necessary approvals and licences were secured from the Irish Aviation Authority and ComReg. All relevant bodies at Dublin Airport now co-operate effectively to tackle illegal drone use and the disruption encountered in early 2023 has not been repeated.

Operational responsibility for the drone detection and counter-drone technology systems at Dublin Airport is a matter for daa.