Unfortunately, in Blanchardstown we have been suffering with this for more than a year and a half and nobody is listening. Manna Drone Delivery began operating in Blanchardstown and it, apparently, has 170,000 drone flights done. The plan is for 2 million. The company has now linked up with the massive multinational, Deliveroo. Let us be clear: the company is not delivering blood or medicine; it is delivering burgers and lattes for profit. So many residents have been raising this with public representatives in the area for more than a year and a half. We raised it on the council and now it must come to the Dáil. There must be regulation. As one resident said: "This is one company: what if the skies are opened up to all companies?" At the moment, it may be only bothering a limited number of people who are losing their right to enjoy their back gardens and their right to privacy. The noise is unbelievable. As one resident said, they have absolutely no issue with drone innovation technology, but beyond the serious privacy and safety issues, the persistent drone noise is disruptive and undermines the quiet residential character of the neighbourhood. They said it adds yet another layer of stress to daily life and reflects a broader problem, namely, the growing incursion of tech companies into our communities without democratic oversight or meaningful accountability. Drone delivery of fast food and consumer goods is not a public necessity. There are other ways to get food delivered. The environment is constantly cited as an issue, but people have a right to enjoy their environment in peace and quiet, as do wildlife. No impact has been done on this. A WhatsApp survey was done on a group of residents in Castleknock. Some 50 people answered straightaway. I have the replies. The things they talked about include the fact that there is "no consent". One person said "my elderly mother finds them very distressing"; another said there is "zero transparency or accountability"; while others referred to "the frequency of flights has noticeably increased"; "the environmental impact" and a "close encounter with a bird". I could go on. Nobody seems to care. This Dáil has to regulate for this.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I did not have time to read the Minister of State's substantial prepared answer but the Department of Transport has known about this because residents have been in contact. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, is also based in the area and replied to residents last August. I warn people in Dublin city that this is what they are in for. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it seems, will let these companies unleash this on people. One of the problems is that the drones are restricted from flying too high because of planes and, obviously, the lower they are, the more noise they generate. The operator is supposed to restrict their hours of operation but that is not being followed, according to residents. They are also supposed to alter their flightpaths so that they are not constantly going over the same houses. That does not happen either. For so many people, the only thing they have in life is sitting outside in their back garden or enjoying their own home, given that they cannot afford to go out, yet this is what they are constantly subjected to. I have to hand an example of the noise of a drone, which was recorded as it flew over my housing estate in Mulhuddart. This is what people are listening to on a Saturday morning, in the evening or whenever. This really needs to be brought home because as one resident asked, will our skies become as busy as our roads? No private company should have the right to do this. If this is necessary, as Deputy Gannon said, for isolated areas, I can see that but it should be run by the State.
Sentiment score: -0.01
Will the Minister of State put the matter on the transport committee's agenda?
Sentiment score: 0.03