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

418. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the deployment of counter-drone technology at Dublin airport, if he will provide a comprehensive account of the number and nature of drone incidents detected since the introduction of these measures, including any available data on the frequency, location and outcomes of such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47103/25]

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

419. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the protocols currently in place for responding to drone incursions at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47104/25]

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

420. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm whether the DAA is required to report drone incidents to his Department or other relevant authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47105/25]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 418, 419 and 420 together.

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 cooperate 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.

There are obligations under European aviation safety legislation for the reporting of safety-related events such as drone incursions at airports. Under Regulation (EU) 376/2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation, aviation professionals such as, pilots, air traffic controllers and aerodrome operators are obligated to report safety related occurrences to the national competent authority, which in Ireland is the Irish Aviation Authority.

The objective of safety reporting is to contribute to the improvement of air safety by ensuring that all information on safety related events is identified, collected, collated and analysed, allowing the proactive identification of safety risks and the subsequent targeting of these risks to mitigate any possible undesired outcome. Occurrence reports are treated confidentially to encourage full and free reporting, protecting the identity of the reporter.