Results 921-940 of 28,135 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy 2022 clearly states that “Islanded” data centre developments, which are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with government policy”. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is understood that the term ‘islanded’ is intended to refer to a data centre fuelled mainly or wholly by fossil fuel and / or a data centre that does not have an electricity connection sufficient to cover its entire energy requirement. I am advised that it is important to note that Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) does not assign or classify data centres as between...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) provides an obligation for Member States to require that owners and operators of data centres with an installed information technology power demand of at least 500kW monitor and make publicly available information, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of Government supports on arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waterways Issues (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There are a number of measures and programmes in place to manage and protect cross-border rivers and lakes. Responsibility for protection of freshwater fish and fisheries habitat along the border region falls primarily to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA), the Loughs Agency (in relation to the protection...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Sustainable Development Goals (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to accelerating Ireland’s progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and to adopting a coordinated approach to drive impactful action both at home and abroad. Last week, I reiterated the Government’s commitment to sustainable development at the United Nations 'High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development'...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Data (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I use my mobile device is in line with my Department’s Mobile Phone Policy and OGCIO’s ICT Acceptable Usage Policy. Whatsapp is installed on this phone.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has been a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Wicklow with €1,650,000 allocated in 2025. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department held four National Sustainable Mobility Forum stakeholder engagement events in May this year; two online and two in-person - in Dublin and Galway. All invitees were invited to attend any one of these events and could choose the time and format most suited to them. The purpose of this approach was to facilitate equity of participation from a broad range of stakeholders, by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 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: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including compliance and enforcement, 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. Ridesharing is not available in Ireland via online...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 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 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 reply. Please advise my private office if you do not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 392, 414, 415, 419 and 420 together. My Department, when required, engages the services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in relation the provision of legal advice and representation in litigation. Where officials of my Department engage external legal services, these procurements are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 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 planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 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 Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Transport has responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of the Greenways programme, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The Department of Transport generally provides funding to greenways over 20km in length (or shorter...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Please see table below with the total number and value of grant payments issued by my Department in each of the past five years (2025 YTD). With regard the Agencies, this is a matter for the Agencies themselves. My office will forward your questions to them for their direct response. If the Deputy has not received a reply within ten working days, please contact my private office. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (29 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...