Séamus McGrath
Ceist:326. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to formulate a policy on the use of drones for delivery purposes [34183/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 May 2026
Ceisteanna (326)
Freagraí scríofa
From an aviation safety perspective, the regulation of both recreational and commercial drones, including drone delivery, is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable in Ireland. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the civil aviation regulator, oversees the implementation and enforcement of the EU drone regulations and standards. It is not the function of the IAA and nor is it equipped to determine in the broader sense the desirability of drone operations in a given area.
The Government, recognising that the impact of a growing drone sector needed further consideration, and that there is a demand for greater clarity and guidance on the roles and responsibilities of public bodies more generally in relation to high frequency drone operations, included in the Programme for Government a commitment to guide high-level strategic planning and development of the drone sector in Ireland.
I published the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in August 2025. The Policy Framework sets out a number of cross-government actions that aim to address concerns in relation to increasing drone usage and operations in balance with the realisation of the economic and societal benefits from the emerging drone sector.
It seeks to identify and address any policy, regulatory or legislative gaps that may have arisen due to increased expansion of drone operations. This will be done in a holistic and balanced way.
Many of the issues addressed by the Policy Framework fall directly within the remit of my department, while other issues cross over into areas of responsibility of other Government Departments and agencies. The Policy Framework aims to facilitate consideration of how matters such as planning and environmental issues will be addressed by the appropriate authorities. This will include ensuring that appropriate authorities have the required regulatory powers and that they have mechanisms in place to ensure that the views of all stakeholders are considered.
The implementation of the Policy Framework is guided by a multi agency Implementation Monitoring Group and progress is tracked through annual implementation action plans and progress reports. The Implementation Action Plan for 2026 has been published and is available on the Government website.