Results 861-880 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Questions relating to the terms of reference for the Boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for each individual State body. Therefore, I will ask the bodies for the information requested to be compiled and forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Responsibilities (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has published the Ministerial Brief I received upon taking office. It is available on the Gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/8ff87-briefing-for-mi nisters-2025/

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Further to the Deputy's clarification on the question, I can confirm to the Deputy no functions, roles and services carried out and delivered by civil servants in my Department have been contracted out to the private sector since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement. My Department continues to avail of additional support from contractors from the private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the infrastructure to allow access to a high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Emergency Planning (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Emergency exercises are carried out to stress-test the systems and procedures in place to ensure that the Government, State agencies and wider stakeholders are prepared to effectively manage a range of potential scenarios. In accordance with risk requirements and annual winter preparedness initiatives, a range of multi-stakeholder simulation exercises have been conducted by the energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pension Provisions (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ministerial consent, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, was issued in relation to the 4% increase, requested in 2023, on 01 February 2024, with effect from 01 January 2024. With regards to a separate 0.7% increase, requested in 2024, Ministerial consent, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am deeply conscious of the significant impacts which Storm Éowyn had on households and businesses, given the unprecedented level of damage which took place. The subject matter of this question relates to ESB Networks operational matters. Issues regarding he development and operation of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Networks. EirGrid, as Transmission System...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Water Services (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister I have no function in relation to Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann is under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage. However since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels under section 7 of the Water...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department and Minister. I, as Minister, meet the Chair and CEO or equivalent of the Agencies under the aegis of my Department on a regular...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artificial Intelligence (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that AI has not been adapted for my Department's operations. The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. My Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report falls under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment. Noting that this report outlines that it is the NTA, in collaboration with other stakeholders who have responsibility for undertaking a feasibility study and to develop a concept proposal for the development of a National Logistics Hub in the Shannon Estuary, as an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Disabled parking permits are available to people living in Ireland whose mobility is severely restricted, whether they are drivers or passengers, and also to those who are registered blind. There is no explicit provision in the scheme for passengers with autism. Eligibility for the permit is not based on a fixed list of specific conditions, but the extent to which the applicant's ability...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (19 Mar 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: Transport Costs (19 Mar 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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to train ticket pricing is a matter for the National Transport Authority, in conjunction with Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions (19 Mar 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: Aviation Industry (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 273, inclusive, together. The regulation of both the recreational and commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS - drones) is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable in Ireland. The primary regulations that govern the use drones are made under Regulation EU 2018/1139 on common rules in the field of civil...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with my response to you (PQ Ref: 5527/25) on 18th February 2025, the Courtown Coast Guard station site has no capacity for expansion to incorporate sufficient facilities and is therefore currently on the Irish Coast Guard building programme list. The OPW carried out a market trawl for suitable site options in the locality and has completed an appraisal process on all sites...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. On 14th February 2025 I announced an Exchequer investment of €713...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (19 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Transport, I am fully committed to progressing key transport capital projects across Ireland, working with the relevant agencies under my remit to achieve their delivery. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The Programme for Government commits to ‘Progress...