Drone complaints on the rise as ‘people of Dublin 15 being used like guinea pigs’
There have been “widespread complaints” about drone activity in the Dublin 15 area, with concerns around privacy and noise on the rise, according to councillors.
Two motions on the issue were agreed by councillors at a local area meeting for Fingal County Council (FCC), with councillors saying the people of Dublin 15 have been used as “guinea pigs”.
Labour councillor for Blanchardstown, John Walsh, introduced a motion about planning issues after three sites for Manna Drones Ltd in Fingal were found to be operating without planning permission.
FCC removed one site in Clonsilla due to unauthorised activity, while sites on Old Navan Road and Coolmine Industrial Estate are being investigated following enforcement orders by the council.
“The fact we have two motions shows how important this issue is to the people here,” councillor Walsh said.
“It’s about complying with the planning system and ensuring that, where there’s new tech, it has to be controlled and used for public good. That’s not what’s happening here with drones.
“The drone delivery company in Dublin 15 was given planning permission for one site in 2023.
“Subsequently, three drone hubs were set up, none of these involved planning permission applications at the time.
“I put that to the company directly and I was told it was a grey area – it is not, it’s a black and white issue, you require planning, plain and simple.
“I acknowledge that the planning section has been active, but I want to urge that continued action is taken in relation to this, even when applications have been submitted.
“It’s a legal requirement and about public consent – this is the only power the council has around drones – we saw how there were over 200 submissions in Dundrum when people were asked about the site there,” he added.
Earlier this year, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) requested further information from Manna Drones Ltd after 215 residents raised concerns and observations over the proposed Dundrum site.
In August, over 200 people gathered at a public meeting with Bobby Healy, CEO of Manna Drones Ltd, where residents raised their concerns about noise, privacy, the loss of jobs and damage to wildlife.
A spokesperson from Manna Drones Ltd said the company had applied for planning permission “where advised” in Blanchardstown, Dundrum and Tallaght.
“Before launching in Dublin 15, Manna engaged extensively with the community,” Kevin Houston, Head of Regulation at Manna Drones, said.
“We leafleted the area, met with every local representative, and our CEO visited nearly all local schools.
“We also hosted multiple drone demonstrations at local sports clubs, including public demonstrations in Castleknock, Blanchardstown, and a full presentation in front of Fingal County Council last year.
“Two weeks ago, we shared an update with all local representatives in Dublin 15, including messages of support signed by nearly 450 people in Dublin 15 calling for support for our service,” he added.
Separately, Fingal councillors have also raised concerns that a new national framework around drone use did not address the need for the public’s consent when operating them.
Introduced in August by the Department of Transport, the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems will introduce fines for drone operators who don’t adhere to noise, privacy and flightpath rules.
Helen Redwood, People Before Profit councillor for Castleknock, introduced another motion requesting the council’s planning department to present a report on the new framework and its implications for local residents.
“The framework envisages that in 10 years’ time, cities are going to experience drone flights over them at 30,000 per hour – how many is that going to be over people’s homes in a day? Has the community given consent to that?” she asked.
“Drones for fast food and retail have been imposed on this area without any effective consultation and without any community consent.
“Councillors in this area are experiencing widespread complaints about noise and privacy – the national framework sees this technology as inevitable, like it’s a foregone conclusion.
“It’s not inevitable, technological progress is obviously welcome, but it depends on how it’s deployed and what it’s used for. Essentially, our area is being used as guinea pigs for this operation.”
Councillor Walsh also noted that the planning process for the drone framework did not outline how the public will be consulted.
“The framework was delayed and fundamentally flawed. This regulation should have come first, not after the drones have already been operating with very little consultation or community consent,” said the councillor.
“The framework is weak on implementation, there’s no timeline and no indication about how the general public will be consulted.
“Everyone was included in coming up with this, except the residents – it disenfranchises local communities and it’s undemocratic. We wouldn’t tolerate it for any other industry,” he added.
This article was amended on October 7, 2025, to correct the name of councillor John Walsh