Results 7,581-7,600 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What the construction sector will actually generate in carbon emissions has been quantified. My main focus is on making sure that we are using more modern methods of construction, MMC. As I have outlined that, I will not repeat myself. We have to catch up on State-delivered housing. I agree with the Deputy on that. For example, timber-framed houses use timber. Some 48% of all homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We discussed the energy performance of buildings directive briefly earlier. We are working with the SEAI to put that in place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That depends on the output in any given year. To give an example-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: To give an example, last year, we targeted 24,600 homes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We built just short of 30,000. I can get the Deputy the detail. I do not have the overall quantification of that. I am saying-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What we have to do, Jennifer Whitmore-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Excuse me, Deputy Whitmore. I apologise. There is a big focus on using MMC. We are seeing much better practices across the country. I take the Deputy's point about the quantification of the carbon from the construction sector and particularly the residential sector. There is no question that it has its role to play. That is why we are focusing in particular on ensuring that our local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is 1 January 2027.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Well-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine. I get the Deputy's question. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, rightly said, the embodied carbon frameworks will be in place from 1 January 2027. It is not that anyone is hiding away from it. When one looks at what is actually being delivered, it is hard to argue with its quality.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We are working towards it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will let my colleagues come in on this but will take the Deputy’s last point first. Local authorities are moving well on retrofitting their stock. There is an opportunity in older estates where homes may have been purchased. Fingal County Council is going to run a pathway scheme in relation to making an offer to the whole estate while retrofitting social homes within it. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will not comment on Galway because it is a live matter with An Bord Pleanála. The Deputy mentioned the NPF review. We are undertaking that now and it will be done as a matter of urgency. We are waiting for the final CSO data to do that and look at population trends and growth, specifically in relation to compact urban growth. Our town centre first policy feeds well into ensuring...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the Senator's point. In large swathes of the country as well, there might be infrastructural deficits that need to be dealt with and some of that will include road infrastructure. I will not comment on Galway but people will understand the issues in Galway. The sustainable and compact settlement guidelines are very important. They need to be updated because the guidelines...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. EV charging infrastructure is crucially important. It is good to see the growth in EV sales. Something that has helped them is the grants. I would like to see the grant levels maintained for EVs as well, because people are responding to that. Local authorities have a role to play in that, and many exercise it. I have seen an increase in charging infrastructure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will let the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, talk about the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. In my opening statement I gave some detail around the retrofitting programme which is really important, with our local authority stock and the housing stock that we have, in order to reduce emissions. Local authorities are key drivers in their own areas to advance climate policy. They...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (14 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted on 24 July 2022. My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding the substitute consent and 37L procedures, following which the substitute consent and section 37L provisions of the Planning and Development,...

Retained Fire Services: Motion [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Retained Firefighters are highly committed frontline responders providing an exceptional service within their communities; — Retained Firefighters live and work within close proximity of their fire station, which provides operational cover and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 395 of 30 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.