Results 24,261-24,280 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) grant scheme, 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Review informs the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Review’s Final Report was published on 31st July 2024. The Review sets...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Driver licensing is handled by the National Driver Licence Service, the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to and may not intervene in individual applications. I have referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles, and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence, are all set at EU level. Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (18 Feb 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: Road Projects (18 Feb 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: Driver Test (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters and neither I nor my department have the power to intervene in individual cases. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my department have the power to intervene in individual cases. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters and the distribution of driver testers. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (18 Feb 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 planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of services on the M3 Parkway to the Docklands is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (18 Feb 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: Road Projects (18 Feb 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: Active Travel (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. The Programme for Government committed around €360 million per annum to walking and cycling across the lifetime of the Government. The vast majority of this funding is allocated to the National Transport Authority (NTA) through the Department of Transport for its Active...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including County Meath. The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, which was approved in early 2023, sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042. The issue of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including County Meath. The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, which was approved in early 2023, sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042. The issue of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. All office and other accommodation occupied by the Department of Transport is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which is responsible for the procurement of office and other accommodation required for Government Departments. My Department currently owns one vacant property, the Dun Laoghaire rocket house, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to catering services onboard Intercity rail services is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Within this policy framework, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not engaged any consultancy firms to provide advice in respect of the use of AI. Some guidance has been received from Microsoft in relation to their Copilot platform as part of regular account management meetings and at no additional cost to the Department. A free version Copilot is being assessed by staff in the Department under strict controls. A project is commencing...