Results 1,461-1,480 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Programme for Government (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, the development of a Luas red line extension to serve Poolbeg is currently one of the longer-term proposals in the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042, for development and delivery within the 2037-2042 timeframe. The Strategy states that the proposed Luas extension to Poolbeg is subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Flood Relief Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand The NTA have issued a response to the deputy as of Monday 17th of February 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent and will be considered on receipt of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Network and Information Systems (NIS) 2 Directive is a revision of the NIS Directive which is currently in force in the State and will remain in full effect covering the most critical operators within the State while the NIS2 Directive is being transposed into national law. It represents a major step forward for cyber resilience in Ireland and in Europe and will enhance cyber risk...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Seven community projects were successful in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 1 (RESS 1) auction, (five solar and two wind projects). Of these seven projects, three have now energised. These community projects have been enabled by the RESS scheme and have now entered into private arrangements for selling their renewable energy. Other RESS 1 community projects are also expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A range of SEAI supports are in place to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions. The specific data sought by the Deputy in relation to SEAI schemes can be found detailed in the table below. Homes retrofitted to a BER B2 standard or higher by SEAI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The ORESS Tonn Nua offshore wind auction will be Ireland's second offshore wind auction and the first to take place under the Phase Two plan led approach. Tonn Nua will auction a 900 megawatt site in the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), approved by the Oireachtas in 2024. The Terms and Conditions for the Tonn Nua Auction were also approved by Government and published on 30...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent and will be considered on receipt of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: No divisions, units or other Departmental structures have been added to or removed from the brief of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to date since the change of Government. My Department is currently following the process and principles outlined in the DPENDER Handbook on Transfers of Functions to give effect to the transfer of functions in and out of my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is currently working to update its remote working policy and arrangements for its staff, primarily focused on incorporating legislation and codes of practice. There are no planned changes to the existing office attendance requirements under the Department's blended working policy, which are currently a minimum two days or 40% office attendance.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Policies (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Heat Study, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), contains detailed analysis that is being used to inform the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise Ireland’s heating and cooling sectors to 2050. A draft Heat Policy Statement, informed by the findings of the National Heat Study, has been prepared and has undergone extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25) builds upon the actions, measures, policies and plans set out in Climate Action Plan 2024. A process to update and refine the plan in the context of the latest reports from the Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Advisory Council and Climate Action Plan progress reports was coordinated by my Department to deliver a multi-stakeholder approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Policies (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A District Heating Steering Group Report (www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f132-district-heating-steering-g roup/) was published in 2023 and contains a suite of recommendations for the development of district heating in Ireland. The General Scheme of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, drafted to give effect to the recommendations of the Steering Group, was approved by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for the regulation of the Irish electricity and natural gas sectors following enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation and the Gas (Interim Regulation) Act 2002, respectively. The CRU is an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas. As set out in the Climate Action...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Mining activity requires three separate consents obtained from three different agencies:Planning permission from the relevant Local Authority;An Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) or an Industrial Emissions (IE) Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These licences contain strict conditions on how a mine must operate to protect the environment from pollution; andA mining...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the Minerals Development Acts 1940-1999, the Minister is required to give public notice of his intention to grant a Prospecting Licence. In this case, the Minister’s notice was published in the Southern Star on 30 January 2025 and also on gov.ie. The public has until 2 March 2025 to make submissions in relation to the Minister’s Intention to grant the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (18 Feb 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. EirGrid is not funded by the Exchequer. It is funded through revenue primarily derived from regulated tariffs such as the...