Results 121-140 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (16 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing and the administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) grant, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including the SPSV Driver Entry Test, 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. Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 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: School Transport (16 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is currently developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: CCTV systems form an integral part of the security installations in the buildings occupied by my Department. The release of information relating to CCTV systems and their capabilities could potentially prejudice the security of the buildings and as such I am not in a position to disclose the information sought in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted pilot scheme for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. This scheme was designed in 2022 and is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Natural Gas Grid (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 212 together. As the Deputy is aware, I recently received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Natural Gas Grid (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, as a final part of the review of the Energy Security Package, I recently received Government approval to proceed with Action 17 of the Package to develop a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. A comprehensive site selection process is underway by Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) to determine the optimal location for a strategic gas emergency reserve. GNI is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Natural Gas Grid (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, I recently received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. This follows from and is in line with the decision taken by the previous Government to take the necessary action to secure Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has made a number of important commitments to address the continued high cost of energy, while accelerating the decarbonisation of Ireland's energy system. The Programme for Government acknowledges the pressures on households and businesses caused by high energy costs. The Energy Poverty Action Plan 2022 set out the range of measures implemented, as well as key longer-term...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. As Minister, I have no function in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Transmission Network (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland was published by my Department in July 2024 in line with the Climate Action Plan (action EL/24/16). Chapter four of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid scale electricity storage systems, including battery electricity storage systems in the European and Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: While my Department does not provide a specific grant for rainwater harvesting equipment, funding may be provided towards these purchases for not-for-profit community organisations under the Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP), specifically through Strand 1/1a. The CCAP will see €61.5 million from the Climate Action Fund being invested in community climate action projects and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the review of the National Development Plan which will allocate funding to update capital expenditure ceilings out to 2035 to deliver on Government policy priorities set out in the Programme for Government. Overall spending allocations for my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland welcomes the Commission’s 2025 Environmental Implementation Review for Ireland which sets out Ireland’s implementation of existing EU environmental policy and legislation. While the report identifies areas in which the pace and scale of implementation needs to increase, it also acknowledges very significant achievements across a range of environment policy areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mining Industry (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The implementation of the Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining is currently underway by my Department. The Policy Statement was designed to be implemented incrementally, reflecting ongoing development and adaptation. While a number of the actions are largely achieved, work is continuing in relation to other elements, informed by more recent external developments. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The establishment of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (“ARE Taskforce”) in March 2023 was one of the key measures set out in the Climate Action Plan. The role of the ARE Taskforce is to deliver a cohesive approach to policymaking, to enable the delivery of sufficient onshore renewable electricity generation capacity and the supporting technologies and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: On 24 January Ireland experienced an unprecedented storm. Storm Éowyn caused widespread power outages and in parts left the electricity grid destroyed due to broken poles, lines and wires. At the peak, 768,000 customers were without electricity supply. This is double the amount of electricity outages experienced during any previous storm. Following Storm Éowyn, I asked ESB Networks...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (15 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland's EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) Programme and Territorial Just Transition Plan were approved by the Government and by the European Commission in December 2022. The Programme was formally launched on 28 April 2023. The EU JTF Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the Midlands region, incorporating €84.5 million of funding from the EU Just Transition Fund for...