Local authorities are working in a "vacuum" due to regulatory gaps in laws that govern commercial drones, an Oireachtas committee has been told.
The Committee on Transport heard that there is an urgent need for legislation relating to planning frameworks and policies around drone regulation to be introduced.
The committee has heard calls for planning frameworks and policies to be introduced by Government in order to assist local authorities in assessing applications for drone operations.
Senior Transportation Officer with Dublin City Council Edel Kelly also said that local authorities are unable to regulate drone noise, as it is excluded from the Environmental Protection Agency Act.
Ms Kelly said the lack of policy or guidance at a national level for commercial drones was creating significant challenges for local authorities.
Ms Kelly was appearing before the committee alongside members of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the drone delivery company Manna on the subject of unmanned aircraft systems.
Drones causing 'Wild west situation' for residents - Coppinger
People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger highlighted issues in her constituency of Dublin West where commercial drones are delivering food and coffee to customers as part of a trial being rolled out by Manna.
She likened the skies above her area in Dublin 15 to a "wild west situation for residents" due to the noise of the drones.
"Neither councils nor the Department of Transport can take noise complaints from residents, who are dramatically impacted by drone deliveries," she said.
"There needs to be consent and approval for our gardens being invaded by drones," she said.
Manna Chief Executive Bobby Healy later told the committee that it had received 108 complaints so far this year, of which 22% were from customers.
He said drone delivery is a "faster, greener and safer" method, adding the trial flights had helped avoid over 3,500kg of CO2 emissions.
Mr Healy said his company was developing quieter technology and added that he would embrace regulations.
IAA Chief Operating Officer Jim Gavin told the committee that Ireland is leading the way in drone regulation, and has highly regulated security and safety guidelines.
He added that, at present there are over 8,000 drone operators and 23,000 remote pilots of drones registered with the IAA.
Read more: 'We are listening' - Drone company CEO responds to noise complaints
