LAST UPDATE | 19 Jun

DRONE DELIVERY COMPANY Manna is to cease its delivery operations in Ireland.

Manna blamed “the absence of a clear national policy framework for commercial drone delivery” in Ireland, which it said has left “no defined pathway for the sector to scale”.

Manna said this afternoon that it would instead concentrate investment in markets “where large-scale drone delivery is now a reality”, adding that it already holds operational authorisation in the US and UK and expects approval in the UAE this year.

The company stressed the move represents a “strategic pause” rather than a permanent withdrawal from Ireland, and said it remains committed to maintaining its Irish base for research, engineering, robotics and corporate functions.

“Don’t worry everyone. We will be back. We just need some clarity around policy and planning to proceed,” Manna founder Bobby Healy said in a post on X.

Don't worry everyone. We will be back. We just need some clarity around policy and planning to proceed.

In the meantime, we continue to grow our R&D and manufacturing teams in Ireland and continue to lead the world in drone delivery technology. https://t.co/MMrjGhjwFH

— 𝘽𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙮 (@realBobbyHealy) June 19, 2026

Minister for Transport Daragh O’Brien said he met with Manna today and “welcomed the company’s continuing commitment to operating significant research and development and manufacturing bases in Ireland where they will test, design and build drones”.

He said drone delivery operations are “closely regulated from an aviation safety perspective” and Manna holds an operational authorisation to carry out operations in Ireland and throughout the EU, adding that planning permission is a matter for independent planning authorities.

Upon seeing the news that the drone deliveries are to stop, People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said in a post on X: “Good. Don’t come back.”

The founder of Manna responded, saying: “You want to say that to the faces of the 50 staff we have who live in your constituency ‘councillor’? You know where to find me.

“Happy to hand you the mic if you have the spine.”

Founded by Healy in 2019, Manna has carried out more than 300,000 drone deliveries across Ireland and internationally, operating in locations including Blanchardstown and Balbriggan in Dublin, Oranmore in Co Galway, Cork and Moneygall, Co Tipperary, as well as expanding into Texas and Finland.

The company currently employs nearly 200 people across engineering, technology, operations and corporate functions almost entirely in Ireland.

In its most established Irish market in Blanchardstown in west Dublin, nearly 90,000 deliveries have been completed since early 2024.

The company’s Irish expansion has faced repeated planning setbacks, including a recent refusal by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for a proposed drone delivery hub in Dundrum over noise and ecological concerns, following hundreds of third-party objections.

Last October, it was refused planning permission to retain a delivery hub in Dublin 15.

Manna said it remains open to resuming Irish delivery operations if a national policy framework is established and said it is willing to work with the government, the Irish Aviation Authority and local authorities on developing future regulations.

Customers in areas affected will be notified directly through the Manna app and by email, a spokesperson said.

Customers were told via email that deliveries in Cork and Coolmine are pausing immediately.

Blanchardstown services will continue on reduced hours, operating from 1pm to 9pm, until fully ceasing on Friday, 26 June.