LIMERICK City and County Council has launched a public consultation on the matter of drone use by the local authority throughout the county.
The Council proposes the use of the unmanned aerial drones for “gathering and collating pictorial data for assessment and planning purposes”, relating more specifically to enforcing environmental legislation and addressing concerns about potential environment or structural damage.
According to the Council, the anticipated use of the drones will be multi-pronged and carried out in areas where “physical access is impractical or unsafe”.
The proposed use of the drones includes the detection and investigation of suspected waste management offences and assessment of environmental damage; assessing, monitoring, and tracing surface contaminants during suspected water pollution incidents and carrying out urgent surveys in areas to anticipate threats to downstream habitats or water abstraction sites; visual examinations of suspected dangerous structures where entry may be hazardous; and during emergency incidents for protection of life and property under the 1981 Fire Services Act, as well as ensuring safe working conditions for employees.
Under the 1996 Waste Management Act, the Council said, the gathering of aerial evidence may be required for imminent environmental damage or legal proceedings.
A spokesman said the Council is “committed to enforcing environmental legislation and addressing concerns about potential environmental or structural damage”.
“The use of MRDs (mobile recording devices) is in the public interest for gathering and collating pictorial data for assessment and planning purposes. In emergency incidents, drone usage will focus on protecting life and property.”
The Council added that the drones “will enable the safe and efficient capture of overhead photographic evidence, including video and thermal imagery in emergency situations”.
“All MRD operations will comply fully with Irish Aviation Authority requirements and the Local Government Management Agency’s Code of Practice for the Use of Mobile Recording Devices.”
The local authority called on local individuals, groups, and individuals to provide feedback on “how the use of MRDs may impact their daily lives”.
The public consultation is open until March 7 for online submissions through mypoint.limerick.ie, via email on [email protected], and in writing to the local authority offices at Merchant’s Quay in Limerick City addressed to ‘Proposed Use of Mobile Recording Devices – Public Consultation’.
The Council confirmed that all submissions to the consultation will be completely anonymous and “no personal data will be retained”.
