With many people expected to receive a drone as a Christmas present, owners have been reminded to get training and be aware of the rules of flying, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has said.
Operators of drones over 250g in weight, or that have a camera, are legally required to register and train with the IAA.
Since 2021, over 17,500 drone pilots have been trained by the IAA and in 2023 there was a 25% increase in the number of pilots trained.
The "Drone Safely This Christmas" campaign launched by the IAA, An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council has highlighted the rules and risks around flying drones.
The IAA said that drones are not toys and can have very serious consequences if they collide with a person, an animal, an aircraft or an object.
The use of drones has "increased significantly in recent years" and it is the responsibility of drone owners to fly them safely, said IAA Chief Operations Officer Jim Gavin.
The majority of users are compliant with regulations but the "reckless use of a drone or inappropriate use of a drone camera may result in prosecution", added IAA Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Manager Enda Walsh.
Flying a drone within five kilometres of an airport carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and gardaí have the power to seize a drone that is thought to have been used or intended to be used in committing an offence.
