Results 21-40 of 28,135 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to the diversification of fuel supply to decarbonise the heat sector. To date, the Government has financially supported the development of district heating networks through the Climate Action Fund (CAF). This includes support for a large-scale scheme operational in Tallaght, which was developed by South Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Production (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Biomethane production is still at an early stage of development in Ireland with only two operational biomethane facilities injecting biomethane into the gas grid. The volume of biomethane injected into the grid in 2023 was small, equating to c. 60 GWh per annum, which is equivalent to 0.001% of Ireland’s current gas demand. Biomethane volumes injected into the gas network reduced by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025 has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewable energy sources, this includes a target of 9GW of onshore wind generation. Ireland currently has circa 7GW of renewable generation capacity. Onshore wind is the largest contributor to this, with circa 5.1GW of wind generation capacity and 1.7GW of solar PV...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government remains committed to the development of 5GW of offshore wind capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter. Ireland's 5GW target will be met through a combination of projects from Phase One and from within the South Coast DMAP. Five offshore wind projects are presently in development off our East Coast. These projects account for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Production (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government outlines the Government's commitment to deliver 80% of Ireland's electricity demand from renewable energy sources including 8GW of solar energy. The total capacity of solar generation connected to the grid is now over 1.7 Gigawatts (GW). This represents very significant progress given that the first utility-scale solar project in Ireland was connected to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Hydrogen Strategy and the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy are both clear that production of renewable hydrogen will occur post-2030. As per the National Hydrogen Strategy, we will explore and develop routes to markets as required. Both policy documents set out the actions to be undertaken over a multi-year period to ensure that appropriate frameworks and policy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Measures (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together. Implementing a Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) is a key priority for my Department. Following Government approval of the General Scheme of the Renewable Heat Obligation Bill 2025, drafting of the primary legislation required to administer the scheme is now underway ahead of the introduction of the obligation in 2026. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding of €81.6m in being allocated to the EU Just Transition programme by my Department in 2026. Funding for the programme is contained within the overall allocation of €209,391 million for Programme A - Climate Action and Environmental Leadership in 2026. In line with usual practice, allocations at subhead level will be finalised and published later this year in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcomed the allocation of €5.64 billion under the updated National Development Plan (NDP), agreed by Government in July of this year, incorporating an allocation of €500 million under the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF), for my Department's capital programmes over the period 2026 to 2030. The purpose of the ICNF is to support Government investments in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Communications (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The format of the Budget 2026 Expenditure Report is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. As in previous years the tables in the Expenditure Report set out Departmental 2026 Budget Day capital programme allocations compared to the capital allocations in the 2025 Revised Estimates. My Department’s core capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Programme for Government (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Commission has imposed an anti-dumping duty on imports of biodiesel and HVO from the USA noting that otherwise the Union industry would be faced with unfair competition from US biodiesel producers. This measure is due to expire in 2026, but an expiry review may be sought. Trade defence instruments are a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and my Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (15 Oct 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: Electric Vehicles (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 62 and 89 together. Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. 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 query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (15 Oct 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....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 70 together. As Minister for Transport, I have overall responsibility for the development of national policy on shared mobility options, including hubs. However, given the National Transport Authority's role in planning for, and overseeing the implementation of shared mobility schemes and hubs, I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Over €100m was allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles (EVs) which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure, including zero emission vehicle take up by households and businesses. This underpins the Government's commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all. Regarding 2026 funding, allocations have yet to be finalised. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years and reaching climate targets. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. Over €100m was allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The sites of the 90 new recharging hubs to service the expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet across Ireland's national road network were announced 10th October 2025. Almost €10 million will be allocated to support grants for recharging infrastructure at the selected sites. These new sites will deliver 192 new fast recharging points, with an average capacity of typically 250kW,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (15 Oct 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. For the transport sector, Ireland is required to pursue a decarbonisation pathway to achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 (against 2018 levels) in a manner that is consistent with...