Results 1,481-1,500 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. Both entities are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not received any funding support for projects from the United States of America International Development for the period in question. In relation to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each individual agency. I am asking the Agencies concerned to respond directly to the Deputy.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The first phase of the Land-use Review was led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and focused on evidence gathering. The Synthesis Report of Phase 1 and the associated technical outputs were published in March 2023. The Programme for Government 2025, 'Securing Ireland’s Future', has committed to completing the second phase of the Land Use Review with the aim of balancing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (18 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 MW site in the South Coast DMAP, approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024. The Terms and Conditions for the Tonn Nua Auction were also published on 30 October 2024. An updated...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the national response to Storm Éowyn, the Inter-Departmental Recovery Group was established. The Group, chaired by my Department, is coordinating actions to restore telecommunications and broadband to those experiencing outages. The Minister for Tourism, Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD met with industry representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Feb 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 installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that the gender breakdown of my Department in respect of Principal Officers, Assistant Secretaries and Secretaries General is as set out in the table below. SEC GEN DEP SEC A SEC PO Male 0 1 6 46 Female 1 0 2[1] 26 ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times for the Warmer Homes Scheme is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI. My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades provided...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, on 24 January, Storm Éowyn caused widespread power outages, unprecedented damage, and in parts, left the electricity grid destroyed due to broken poles, lines and wires. The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) was convened on Wednesday 22 January in preparation for the storm. This was attended by all Government Departments and agencies. During the meeting...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It should be noted that the damaging, dangerous and destructive nature of Storm Éowyn on 24 January was unprecedented. It 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns new Eircodes to building addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. All postal addresses and geo-locations are provided to Eircode from authoritative sources, namely An Post and Tailte Éireann (Formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) through their subsidiary company An Post GeoDirectory. An Post...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Domestic electricity micro-generation is supported by the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). Grants are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations of solar PV, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025. Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in February 2022, the SEAI have seen application levels rise sharply. In 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (18 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 and Minister. Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent and will be considered on...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 were introduced to ensure environmentally sound management of tyres placed on the Irish market throughout their lifecycle. Visible Environmental Management Costs, or vEMCs are recycling charges for certain categories of electrical and electronic products. Currently, the Regulations do not impose a vEMC on agricultural, truck,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 24 January, Storm Éowyn caused widespread power outages, unprecedented damage, and in parts, left the electricity grid destroyed due to broken poles, lines and wires. The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) was convened on Wednesday 22 January in preparation for the storm. This was attended by all Government Departments and agencies. During the meeting the severity of the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the national response to Storm Éowyn, the Inter-Departmental Recovery Group was established. The Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, is coordinating actions to restore telecommunications and broadband to those experiencing outages. The Minister for Tourism, Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan...

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 Staff (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that the number of WTE legal advisors employed by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 is as set out in the tables below. 2023 Grade WTE Principal Solicitor 1.00 Advisory Counsel 4.00 Total 5.00 2024 Grade WTE Principal...