Results 201-220 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and are following recommendations provided in June 2023. All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. My Department does not use AI to conduct its systems or operations.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The damaging, dangerous and destructive nature of Storm Éowyn on 24 January 2025 was unprecedented, causing widespread power outages and leaving the electricity grid destroyed in parts due to broken poles, lines and wires. At the peak, 768,000 customers were without electricity supply. This is double the amount of electricity outages experienced during any previous storm. It also had a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including for any breakdown of funding in relation to the Navan rail line.  Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters nationally. There is a commitment under the Programme for government to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. Investment in Active Travel infrastructure has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Park-and-Ride Facilities (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is leading the development and rollout of strategic park and ride sites nation-wide through the Park and Ride Development Office (PRDO). The function of the PRDO is to enable and advance the delivery of strategic Park and Ride sites in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183, 184, 185, 186 and 187 together. I would like to reassure the Deputy that in line with the Programme for Government, this Government commits to working with all stakeholders to quickly progress Waterford Airport’s project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government decision of 2019.  There are no caveats...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. However I am informed by Irish Rail that the following additional rail services have been added to the regular schedule 10.20 Mallow to Heuston 20.50 Heuston to Mallow 09.40 Tralee to Heuston ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides support to officers in their formal learning and educational attainment through the Advance of Academic Fees Scheme, which operates in line with Department of Finance Circular 23/07: Post-Entry Education - Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave. In the last three years to date, the Department has allocated funding for legal study courses under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has established an AI steering group to ensure the safe and well-governed introduction of AI, aiming to assess potential efficiency gains within the Department. Chaired at the Assistant Secretary General level, this cross-cutting group involves the HR, IT, Data Analytics, Data Protection and Communications divisions. Additionally, the Department collaborates with its agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory unless an exemption is granted by the Minister for Transport, as implemented in the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989. Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, I have not granted any exemption that permitted the carriage of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. It is important to Government in ensuring the sustainable development of Dublin Airport, to balance the legitimate rights of local residents who are concerned about noise levels at the airport, with the objectives of the National Aviation Policy, and the needs of business and tourism interests.  The Programme for Government includes a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The development of the Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) is a key priority for Government and a draft RHO high-level scheme has now been finalised. As part of the scheme development process, and in consultation with industry and key stakeholders, an extensive examination of the heat sector and the potential cost and availability of renewable fuels to meet the obligation has been carried out. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to working with all stakeholders to quickly progress the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government decision of 2019. In line with that commitment, myself and Government colleagues met with Waterford City and County Council officials last week where next steps for progressing the project were discussed.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (9 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....