Manna refused permission to continue drone deliveries from Dublin 15 base
Fingal County Council has refused permission for drone delivery company Manna to continue flying deliveries from a base in Dublin 15.
The company, which mainly delivers fast food and groceries to householders, had applied for retention permission to keep operating its aerial delivery hub at Coolmine Industrial Estate, with plans to “continue the operation of its aerial delivery hub maintaining hours of 9am to 9pm, seven days a week”, serving customers within a 3km radius.
In November last year, the council requested further information from Manna as part of the application lodged in September, including “a comprehensive Noise Impact Assessment”.
On May 19, Fingal County Council refused the application, stating that the noise impact assessment “does not provide sufficient evidence to robustly determine that adverse noise effects associated with the aerial delivery hub can be avoided”.
Manna delivery drones flying over Dublin 15
It added that, in the absence of sufficient evidence, the operation “results in serious noise pollution”.
The council also warned that approving the retention permission “will set an inappropriate precedent for other similar forms of development”, adding that it would be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area” and “prejudicial to public health”.
Separately, last October, retention permission for a base at Blanchardstown’s Junction 6 in Dublin was also refused.
In that refusal, Fingal County Council also said that “insufficient details” on potential noise pollution were submitted by Manna.
Meanwhile the planning permission for the company’s other base in Dublin 15, at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, was granted in August 2023 for three years, and is due to expire three months from now.
Over 70 submissions - with the vast majority opposed to the retention application - were lodged with Fingal County Council for the Coolmine Industrial Estate location. Noise concerns were also central to objections from local residents.
“I live in a first floor apartment…I experience absolutely zero noise from road traffic. Yet, Manna’s drone deliveries are so noisy and intrusive, when I have the windows or balcony door open in my apartment, I literally cannot hear the radio or television when the drones fly past,” one submission read.
Another resident argued: “To say that ‘the development does not give rise to any material adverse impact on residential amenity and is consistent to the established noise environment’ is to have no regard to the actual, living experience of residents living over the hedge or wall from a frequent user of this commercial drone delivery service.”
Privacy concerns were also raised by people living in the area.
“These drones are guided with cameras and I would like to specifically point out that my privacy in my own front and back gardens is being violated,” a resident wrote.
Meanwhile, a member of Delwood Residents Association said: “Delwood Estate has experienced a significant deterioration in residential amenity due to commercial delivery drone operations above our homes and neighbourhood. We have concerns regarding the intrusive impact on privacy and noise levels in our estate since the introduction of drones flying overhead during transit or delivery.”
Ruth Coppinger TD (People Before Profit-Solidarity) and party colleagues, Cllr John Burtchaell and Cllr Helen Redwood lodged a joint objection stating that “the frequency of flights is already causing significant distress within the community… Our skies will become filled with drones instead of bird life.”
CEO of Manna, Bobby Healy. Photo: Mark Condren
In response to queries, including whether it will appeal the local authority’s decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, the company did not directly address the question.
Instead, a spokesperson for Manna said: “Manna continues to operate from Blanchardstown and employs 50 staff living in the area, out of its 180-person workforce in Ireland.
“It has served roughly 80,000 people in Dublin 15 since commencing operations in the area in 2024, following successful trials in Moneygall, Oranmore and Balbriggan.”
Manna, which has planned to expand with other bases in Ireland, currently operates drone deliveries in Ireland, Finland and Texas. It employs 120 people at a base in Glasnevin, where it builds its drones.
In Ireland, it has agreements with over 30 fast-food outlets and retailers and currently flies between 100 and 300 daily flights in the Blanchardstown area.