Results 441-460 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no projects currently underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Noting the relevance of the Deputy's question to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, I have referred this question to them for a direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please advise my private office.

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is not currently examining the future use of AI in relation to specific policy areas. A free version of Microsoft Copilot has been made available to all staff and is being assessed under strict controls. Further AI use cases may be explored in the year ahead but these projects will focus on analytics type data work rather than on policy areas directly.

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recognises the importance of building future readiness and has offered AI training to staff through short courses provided by the Institute of Public Administration ("AI Essentials" and "AI Masterclass"). The "AI Essentials" course provides an understanding of the fundamentals of AI as well as its potential and implications. It aligns with the public service transformation...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. My Department administers a diverse and complex brief, including the oversight of agencies such as the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This includes policy development and funding of public transport, roads, aviation, maritime transport as well as promoting sustainable mobility. My Department has a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not conducted general surveys that would estimate the amount of time taken up with administrative tasks, where that time could be used more efficiently. One of the key Strategic goals, Organisational Excellence and Innovation, in the Department’s current Statement of Strategy, outlines the Department's commitment to innovation and improving its systems. This includes...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the electrification of public transport. The Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the public transport sector in line with the Climate Action Plan. No new diesel-only buses have been purchased for urban public...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Measures to make the planning system more efficient for delivery of infrastructure are primarily a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation. From a transport policy perspective, more integrated land use and transport planning, including transport orientated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) was held in 2023. The North Irish Sea Array (NISA) project was one of four projects that were successful in the auction and were awarded a Contract for Difference (CFD) under the Scheme. I understand that the NISA project holds a grid connection offer for its planned 500 MW capacity and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2024 commits to achieving at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. The Government's Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery of this objective. Our first offshore wind auction (ORESS 1) took place in 2023 and awarded supports to four projects. Two further projects that were unsuccessful in the ORESS 1 auction are pursuing a route to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to achieve our ambitious Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) goals, it is likely that a number of different technologies will need to play a role, including floating offshore wind. Given the relatively short timeframe involved in achieving our 2030 target, the focus of ORESS auctions so far has been on fixed-bottom offshore wind, as this technology is much more commercially advanced...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Noise Pollution (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC sets out certain requirements for the assessment and management of environmental noise from transport sources, including the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. It is important to note, however, that the Directive does not set binding limit values nor does it prescribe the measures to be included in the action plans, leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The current Waste Framework Directive includes a requirement for all member states to have a separate collection system for textiles by 1 January 2025 to support the transition to a textiles circular economy. Ireland's separate collection system for textiles consists of a national network of local authority and charity bring banks, charity retail shops as well as some private bring banks....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (9 Apr 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. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to EVs. The number of publicly accessible charge points in Ireland increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to approximately 2,400 in 2024. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Home charging is and will remain the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer. However, for those unable to do so a growing public charging network will provide a reliable alternative. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) has significant funding available in 2025 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Córas Iompair Éireann (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ, Group and their employees. As a commercial semi-state body, CIÉ are responsible for the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (9 Apr 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, nor do I have a role in the sourcing of a location for coach parking. In Dublin City, the provision of coach parking is a matter for Dublin City Council (DCC). The National Transport Authority operates...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The number of mid-sized cruise ships visiting Dublin Port directly over recent years has remained relatively consistent with approximately 30 to 40 requests annually. Dublin Port also facilitates in excess of 60 cruise calls annually to Dublin Bay, in which case passengers are tendered to Dún Laoghaire. Within the ongoing Dublin Port Masterplan 2040 infrastructure development works,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including maximum taxi fares, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector. The National Maximum Taxi Fare structure is a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: While the Department of Transport has overall responsibility for transport policy, including aviation, it is not within its remit to intervene in the operational matters of private commercial airlines, such as baggage policies. Generally, the contract between the airline and customers is bound by the terms and conditions set out at the time of booking with the airline. Passengers are...