Public representatives voice concern for Manna delivery pilot in Cork

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is being urged to attend Cork City Council’s transport committee meeting in April to discuss concerns regarding drone operations across the south city.

A new pilot scheme, aimed at prioritising commercial drone flyers to facilitate home deliveries across Cork, commenced last week and is being operated by Dublin-based company, Manna.

Under this scheme, non-commercial drone pilots are restricted from flying over large parts of Cork city without two days' prior notice.

CEO of Manna, Bobby Healy, said the company, which specialises in bringing retail, food, drink and pharmacy deliveries to doorsteps via drone operations, received interest from independent retailers and consumers in Cork asking them to consider bringing the service to Leeside.

However, Labour Party councillor for the Cork city South East ward, Peter Horgan, who is also chair of the transport committee, expressed significant concern for impacts already seen on residents across the Blackrock and Ballintemple areas.

“The issue is not the company operating, it is the idea that we must subject residents to this invasion of their home,” said Mr Horgan.

“Public airspace is not a commodity to be carved up in favour of monopolies, [and] areas are constantly buzzing above gardens and homes.

“I would have expected at the very least that adhering to the road network route would be undertaken, rather than a straight-as-the-crow-flies approach.

“That impacts people – even in this weather, so imagine the impact when the fine weather returns.

“We have requested the IAA to come into the transport committee for April and I certainly hope they agree,” he added.

“The whole approach to this new set-up leaves a lot to be desired.” 

A spokesperson for Manna said the company operates in "full compliance with GDPR". 

"A small downward-facing camera with less resolution than Google maps activates only during delivery as a safety mechanism for obstacle detection," the spokesperson said. 

"It does not record, store, or transmit imagery, ensuring residents’ privacy is protected at all times."

Manna, which already launched its delivery operations in Dublin in 2024, received significant pushback from residents last year once it expanded its operations to include wider Deliveroo services.

Following this expansion, more than 90 complaints were lodged with the Fingal County Council across the Dublin 15 area by November.

Prior to the pilot launch in Cork, Green Party councillor for the Cork city North East ward, Oliver Moran, said the IAA should “set aside” the restrictions on other drone users until a policy that “supports multiple commercial and community uses of drones in the city” is developed.

“Regulating all but one operator out of the economy is no way to encourage innovative uses of new technologies," said Mr Moran.

"The most galling aspect of this is that people who have done everything right, did their training, gotten their drone licence, operated responsibility, are now being turfed out.

“That's not fair, it's not supportive of innovation, and it's an example of bad regulation.

“The IAA should hold a full public consultation, including with elected members of Cork City Council, on developing a policy that supports multiple commercial and community uses of drones in the city.”