An Garda Síochána has established a new national drone unit to support policing operations from the air.
Commissioner Justin Kelly revealed that the unit is already in place and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in Co Mayo, he said the technology has “a lot of potential” for policing, reports The Mirror.
Mr Kelly explained that the drones will be used in everyday policing rather than just specialist operations.
He said they could assist in areas such as pursuits, public order incidents and a wide range of routine duties, reports The Mirror.
The commissioner noted that he recently visited New York Police Department headquarters at One Police Plaza to observe how drones are being used effectively there.
He said Irish authorities have also engaged with international counterparts as part of developing the new capability, reports The Mirror.
The unit operates under Operational Support Services and already has dedicated personnel with expertise in drone use.
Mr Kelly said the aim is for drones to provide real-time support to officers on the ground across a variety of situations, reports The Mirror.
He added that Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary is overseeing the rollout, with wider deployment expected by late 2026 or early 2027.
The commissioner said the initiative is separate from the force’s counter-drone capabilities, which are used to deal with potentially hostile drones.
These systems are expected to play a key role during Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the European Council, when security operations will be intensified, reports The Mirror.
He referenced a previous incident during the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky, when drones were detected near Dublin, prompting a major investigation.
Mr Kelly said gardaí have worked with international partners, including forces from Northern Ireland, Portugal and France, to strengthen their response to such threats.
He added that counter-drone measures will be especially important for protecting visiting dignitaries and major events in the future, reports The Mirror.
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