Rules for drones

Question

I intend to buy a drone. Are there any rules I should be aware of?

Answer

Drones and model aircraft are both considered small unmanned aircraft and the same rules apply to their operation. The rules are set out in the Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets Order 2015 (SI 563/2015).

Under the rules, all drones weighing 1kg or more must be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). This includes the weight of the battery and all attached equipment, including cargo, at the start of its flight. You must be over 16 years of age to register a drone, otherwise it must be registered by a parent or legal guardian. You register your drone online at iaa.ie/drones.

You must never operate a drone in a negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of others and you must have permission from the landowner for take-off and landing. You must never operate it:

·         Farther than 300 metres from you or out of your direct line of sight

·         Over 120 metres above ground level

·         Over urban areas or over a group of 12 or more people

·         Within 120 metres of any person, vessel or structure not under your control

·         Closer than 5 kilometres from an aerodrome

·         If it will be a hazard to another aircraft in flight

·         In civil or military controlled airspace or in restricted areas such as prisons

If you want to operate your drone outside these limits, you must apply to the IAA for a specific operating permission and complete a drone safety training course. If your drone weighs 4kg or more, you must complete a drone safety training course before operating it. You should be aware that there may be privacy or trespass issues if you operate a drone over private property. While you do not need insurance to operate a drone it is recommended that you are insured and that you complete a drone safety training course.

Discrimination when renting residential property

Question

Are advertisements saying that landlords won’t accept tenants getting Rent Supplement allowed?

Answer

Equality legislation applies to lettings and accommodation. The Equal Status Acts 2000-2015 ban certain kinds of discrimination. Broadly speaking, discrimination means that you receive less favourable treatment than other people in a comparable situation on grounds of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community. Landlords cannot discriminate against potential tenants on these grounds.

Since 1 January 2016, following an amendment to the Equal Status Acts, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants because they are getting Rent Supplement or any other social welfare payment, or a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). This means that landlords can no longer state when advertising accommodation that Rent Supplement (or HAP) is not accepted and they cannot refuse to rent you accommodation because you are getting Rent Supplement, HAP or a social welfare payment.

However if you are sharing with the home owner (under the Rent a Room Scheme, for example), a license agreement exists and the Acts do not apply. There are some other exemptions. If you feel you have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, you can contact the Workplace Relations Commission to find out more about making a complaint under the Equal Status Acts. Visit workplacerelations.ie for contact details.

For more information about your rights you can contact the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Boyle Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6330

Address: Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service - 0761 07 4000

Census 2016

Know Your Rights: Census 2016

Question

Can you explain how the census works? Do I have to complete the form?

Answer

The Census of Population counts every person who is in the State on a particular date. It establishes the size of the population in the State and it also helps to provide an accurate measure of population changes due to inward and outward migration.

The census takes place every 5 years and is carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The next census will be on Sunday 24 April 2016.

The census counts everyone who is present in the State on the designated night, including visitors who usually live abroad. Under the Statistics Act 1993, you are legally obliged to complete and return the census form. If you refuse to provide this information, or if you deliberately provide false information, you may be fined. Teams of enumerators deliver census forms to every household and to every other type of place where people may be present on census night (such as hotels, guesthouses, hospitals, ships). Everyone who is actually on the premises on census night, including visitors, should be counted. Census enumerators call to all households to deliver forms before census night and then call back to collect completed forms. Enumerators all carry ID and can help if you have difficulty completing the form.

The form includes a wide range of questions, including age, marital status, sex, place of birth, level of education, type of employment and housing characteristics. All the information that you give on the census form is confidential. The CSO only uses it for statistical purposes and no other organisation (including government departments or agencies) can access information from the census that would identify you in any way.

When you have completed the form on census night, sign the declaration at the end of it and keep it safe until your enumerator calls back to collect it.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Boyle Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6330

Address: Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service - 0761 07 4000

Should my dog be microchipped?

Question

Should my dog be microchipped? Does the microchip replace a dog licence?

Answer

Under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, all dogs born after 1 June 2015 must be microchipped and registered on an authorised database by the time they are 12 weeks old, or if they leave the property on which they were born before the age of 12 weeks.

The microchip does not replace the licence. You will still need to have a licence for your dog. Dog licences are issued by your local authority.

If your dog was born after 1 June 2015 and is now over 12 weeks old, it should already have been microchipped and registered. Since 31 March 2016, the Regulations apply to all dogs over 12 weeks old. Even if your dog has already been microchipped (for a pet passport, for example) it needs to be registered on an authorised database as well.

The microchip can only be implanted by a vet, a veterinary nurse or a person who has been trained by one of the authorised databases. The microchip contains a unique 15-digit number. When you register with an authorised database, this number is recorded on it, along with your name and address details. Microchipping and registering means that, if your dog goes missing and is found, you can be identified as its owner and be reunited with it.

If you plan to buy a new dog at any stage, you should check that it has been microchipped and registered. The seller has to give you the dog’s certificate of registration and you should forward it to the relevant database to get the details updated. If you move house, you will need to update your contact details on the database.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has published a list of authorised databases, along with a set of Frequently Asked Questions, on agriculture.gov.ie.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Boyle Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6330

Address: Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service - 0761 07 4000.

Update 20th March

Question

My father has had a stroke and is critically ill. The doctors say that he has very little time left. Am I entitled to leave from work to be with him?

Answer

If you have a family crisis, the Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006 give an employee a limited right to leave from work. This is known as force majeure leave. You can take force majeure leave where, for urgent family reasons, your immediate presence is necessary because a close family member is ill or has been injured.

The definition of a close family member includes a child or adopted child, a spouse or partner and a parent or grandparent. 

The maximum amount of leave is three days in any 12-month period or five days in a 36-month period. You are entitled to be paid while you are on force majeure leave. Your employer may grant you further leave.

However force majeure leave does not give any entitlement to leave following the death of a close family member. If your father dies following his illness, you don’t have a statutory right to leave after his death.

You may be entitled to compassionate leave under your contract of employment or custom and practice in your workplace. Alternatively, you may be given some bereavement leave at your employer’s discretion.

Further information about force majeure leave is available from the Workplace Relations Commission's Information and Customer Service Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 or from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Boyle Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6330

Address: Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service - 0761 07 4000

Retirement Planning Programme

Thinking Ahead! – A Public Information Evening on State Pensions 

& additional Benefits & Entitlements

Co. Roscommon Citizens Information Service, which is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board, as part of its remit of delivering information, advice and advocacy services to the public is holding a public information evening on Thursday, 5th November, 2015 on social welfare State Pensions and additional benefits & entitlements.    

The venue is King House, Boyle at 7pm; registration commences from 6.30pm – 6.45pm.  This is a free event and all are welcome to attend.     

This event is an interagency initiative between Co. Roscommon Citizens Information Service, Roscommon Leader Partnership and Roscommon Older People’s Council.

It is being held for the benefit of members of the public who want to learn more about the types of social welfare State Pensions and the additional benefits, entitlements and supports that are relevant and are currently available upon retirement.     

A guest speaker will present the information in a user friendly manner and demystify the complexity of State Pensions and additional social welfare entitlements.

This event is of relevance for anyone contemplating retirement or indeed for those who have already retired and want to enhance their knowledge to seek any additional outstanding entitlements/benefits.    

It will be of interest to people from all working backgrounds, for the employed, self-employed, homemakers and indeed existing pensioners.

Overall, it is anticipated that those in attendance will come away from the event with a greater knowledge and awareness of the criteria that has to be met under current guidelines to obtain a social welfare pension and any extra benefits & entitlements associated with pensions.

The Information Event will also offer an opportunity to those in attendance of enhancing their knowledge of local supports and services available through agencies in the region for older people.  Representatives from a number of local organisations will be on hand hosting their own information stands at the event.

This is a free information event and refreshments will be served to attendees. 

For further information contact Fiona Kilmartin (Roscommon CIC) on 0761 07 6380 or Margaret Lynch (Boyle CIC) on 0761 07 6330.

Consumer rights in the EU

Question:

I’ve just come back from a holiday in Portugal. I booked a tour to see the sights but the coach didn’t turn up on the day. The tour company said we could rearrange another time but this didn’t suit me. Can I get my money back?

Answer:

When you buy goods or services in another EU member state you have certain rights under consumer legislation, including the right to make a complaint. The consumer laws of Portugal apply to any goods or services you bought while you were visiting there. However language differences and distance can make it more difficult to complain effectively. 

If you are not happy with something you paid for, you should deal with the issue as soon as possible. In some cases, there are time limits for taking certain procedures. Even if there are no time limits set down, it is easier for you and the service provider to deal with issues as soon as possible. 

Keep all relevant documents. It is your responsibility to prove that you paid for the goods or service that you are complaining about. A receipt is just one way to prove that you paid for an item or service. If you paid for the item by credit card, you can use your credit card statement as proof of purchase. 

You should contact the service provider or retailer directly to make your complaint – in this case, the tour company. If you have exhausted the company’s complaints mechanism or you are not happy with their response you should seek advice from your European Consumer Centre (ECC).

The ECC in Ireland is there to support you if you have a problem with a supplier of goods or services in another EU member state. It is part of an EU-wide network of consumer centres and it can help you to solve consumer disputes that arise in other member states of the EU. It does this by trying to solve the dispute directly with the supplier and, if this fails, by referring your case to an alternative dispute resolution body.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Boyle Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6330 

Address: Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service - 0761 074 000.