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LAST UPDATE | 20 Aug
RESIDENTS IN A Dublin suburb are concerned funerals will be disrupted by drones making food and drink deliveries as a firm is seeking to set up beside the parish church.
Manna, a drone delivery company which has been at the centre of debate over its operations in Dublin 15, is seeking to launch a new delivery hub at the Holy Cross Church in Dundrum. Residents are concerned over the noise and safety of the devices.
Seeking to quell concerns, a TD and the company’s owner have set aside their differences and will meet with Dundrum residents tonight.
Drones in Ireland are governed by the Irish Aviation Authority – but there are no specific regulations for commercial-uses, such as food and drink deliveries. It is hoped that a new policy framework, to be published today, will provide clarity to the industry.
The plan, which was initially promised in 2023, seeks to balance government policy of developing a strong commercial drone sector in the country, alongside community concerns around privacy and noise.
Bobby Healy, the owner of Manna, appeared at the Oireachtas transport committee earlier this year and welcomed further regulation, claiming it would help the future of his business.
Tonight, he will meet with residents who have concerns over the noise, location and privacy risks associated with the drones alongside Fianna Fáil TD Shay Brennan, who has already formally objected to Healy’s plans to expand into the suburb.
Brennan previously justified his objection, claiming that not enough public consultation had taken place and expressed fears that business interests were being prioritised over the community.
Kevin Houston, head of regulatory at Manna, told The Journal that operations at Dundrum are not imminent. It is understood that there is outstanding planning paperwork yet to be completed.
Fellow Rathdown TD, Fine Gael’s Meave O’Connell, has voiced her objection to the location of the proposed delivery hub. The hubs act as a launch-and-landing pad for the drones, which deliver food and drinks to customers by lowering a bag tied to a string.
O’Connell told The Journal she believes that placing the hubs beside community centres and religious settings should be avoided:
“During a funeral, you will have the sounds of drones taking off and landing next door. There’s no way around that. It’s a good site – right in the village – but not next to a church.”
A spokesperson for Manna said the company has a “policy of not flying over sensitive areas or areas we time specific sensitivities”, such as cemeteries, hospices, hospitals and schools.
Healy recently told the Oireachtas that Manna plans to reduce the size of its drones and change the propellors, which will make them quieter. He said the camera, used by pilots at a local hub, are only turned on when lowering the deliveries to the customer.
Speaking to The Journal yesterday, Brennan said: ”There’s no legislation in place to cover how often they fly on a commercial basis, what routes they fly on a commercial basis, and that’s something that needs to come.
“Unfortunately – albeit an exciting and innovative technology – like all technologies, it’s ahead of the legislation to govern it. We’re playing catch up there. It’s important that, at this stage, we invite the public in to have their say.”
The new national framework published today sets out that a working group on drones will be established to develop procedures to create “geographical zones” for the devices. The zones will safely manage and integrate drone use in Irish airspace.
Fine Gael’s O’Connell has criticised the drone policy, published today, for its lack of clarity. She said a clear framework around the use of Ireland’s airspace is needed, not “another working group”.
Manna has been operating in Dublin 15 for over a year. Locals, as first reported by The Journal last year, are concerned over the noise levels from the drones and have asked that their homes be excluded from the company’s flight path.
D15 Drone Action, a local group, claimed that a leaflet drop – supported by Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger – informing residents about an opt-out clause that removes homes from Manna’s flight path led to large increases in complaints.
Manna’s Houston said that there has not been a significant increase in complaints or requests for exclusion in recent months: “We will review this courtesy policy once the national guidelines are published,” the regulatory boss told The Journal.
“Until then we will continue to service 40,000 plus customers in the area.”
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