Results 1,001-1,020 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered, with the first six phases of the Network Redesign...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered, with the first six phases of the Network Redesign...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including vehicle age limits for SPSVs, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Act 2013 - 2016. The Minister has no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector. As you are aware, the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Transport, I am fully committed to progressing key transport infrastructure projects under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030. As the Deputy may be aware, the revised NDP 2021-2030 was an update to the NDP 2018-2027. Under the Programme for Government, the Government has committed to prioritising an early review of the NDP...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The current target under the Climate Action Plan is to have 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030. 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 which includes...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Policies (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy raises an interesting question; however, it is important to clarify that public transport services are funded through current expenditure and public transport infrastructure is funded through capital expenditure and there are clear rules in place under Public Financial Procedures as regards the distinction between the two streams of funding. The Programme for Government commits...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Anti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network. There is a strong commitment under the Programme for Government to create a Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Meetings (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the CEOs of Dublin Bus or GoAhead. However, it is my intention to do so in the near future. The Programme for Government has a strong focus on enhancing bus services and ensuring BusConnects delivers on its promised benefits for public transport users by providing a modern bus network with improved reliability, accessibility and efficiency. I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 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 supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority. As...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) continues to work directly with local authorities on the delivery of EV charging infrastructure. Home charging is and will remain the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it is convenient, cheaper for the consumer and assists in the overall management of the national grid by reducing the impact of reliance on higher powered and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (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 electric vehicles. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerates...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, is developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS). This strategy will replace the existing Galway Transport Strategy adopted in 2016 and will provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the delivery of transport and the integrated development of transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department did not provide any costings to DPENDR earlier in 2025 and are not aware of any such NDP review conducted in that period.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (6 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 issues raised by the Deputy in relation to delays and overcrowding are operational matters for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 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. Reaching our targets for public charging will be facilitated by a mix of public funds and private sector investment and will feature a mix of different charging types, such as AC type on-street charging and DC type...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Exchequer supports totalling over €23 million were provided to Kerry Airport by my Department between 2016-2024. As requested by the Deputy, please see the table below, which provides a breakdown of this funding over this period. TOTAL AVIATION SUPPORTS PROVIDED TO KERRY AIRPORT 2016-2024 FUNDING PROGRAMME/SCHEME GRANT SCHEME 2016 2017 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 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. The Department of Transport also emphasises to local authorities the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. In the Programme for Government we also set out our commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (5 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator responsible for electricity and gas network connection policy and accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas. The CRU published a Large Energy Users Connection Policy Proposed Decision Paper on 18 February, commencing a six-week consultation period. This proposed decision relates to data centres only and is...