Regular drone deliveries have destroyed the “peace and privacy” of Blanchardstown and locals fear the skies above them could become “as busy as our road

Manna Drone Delivery has been operating in the area since March of this year and the company makes about 200 deliveries each day.

Not all locals, however, are happy with the Manna's operations.

One Blanchardstown resident told Newstalk reporter Henry McKean that he feels the drones are intruding on locals' "peace and privacy".

"The fundamental rights to enjoy a family home in peace and privacy are guarded in multiple laws," he said.

"They’ve been completely negated here because a private company has been allowed to fly drones that are very loud, with cameras over our private homes, over our back gardens," he said.

Regulation

People Before Profit-Solidarity Cllr Ruth Coppinger said drone deliveries need to be far better regulated.

"This is one company; if this company is successful in its business, loads more will want to do this," she said.

"Will our skies become as busy as our roads?

"We need to discuss and regulate."

Ms Coppinger said she understands that drone deliveries could be helpful in certain scenarios - such as delivering medicines.

However, she described the use of drones to deliver coffees as "completely frivolous".

High angle view of drone successfully delivered parcel over grassy field, Alamy 2015.

Manna Drone Delivery CEO Bobby Healy told Newstalk that there is "absolutely no reason" for locals to be concerned about privacy.

"We cannot see anything when we're flying over your garden," Mr Healy said.

"We can't see anything until we're at the delivery site."

Mr Healy said the use of cameras upon delivery is due to safety reasons.

"It's so we can make sure there's nobody underneath the aircraft when we're delivering because that would be a safety hazard.

"The pilot sees [through the camera] for 15 seconds, and then it's gone forever."

Mr Healy said Manna's drones "make less noise than an electric car would" and that the noise complaints are just a result of people noticing a different noise than what they are used to.

Feature image: Drone camera in flight, 2015, Alamy.