Results 24,281-24,300 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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 is responsible for the licensing of public bus passenger...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to delivering for all people and all regions across our shared island. In relation to air connectivity between Derry and Dublin, this Government is committed to engaging with all relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry City airports as reflected in our Programme for Government. I would...

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: Wind Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: To align with overarching decarbonisation objectives, Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions are being delivered in a phased approach. Phase One comprises six projects which will deploy fixed-bottom technology, with the majority of these Phase One projects on the east coast and one on the west coast. The combined capacity of all Phase One projects is approximately 4.4 gigawatts. One of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 of whom are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The Government does not have any role...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 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 majority of digital connectivity across the State will be delivered through commercial investment by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 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 and Minister. As a matter of course I, as Minister, will regularly meet with the Chair and CEO or equivalent of the Agencies under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly it should be noted that providing telecommunication services and the repair of telecommunication networks is a matter for the relevant service providers, operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) as independent Regulator. As the Deputy will be aware Storm Éowyn was the worst storm in history in respect of impact...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications, I have no function in relation to public procurement policy, which is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Public procurement is governed by both EU and national regulations. Similarly, I have no function in relation to industrial relations matters in another jurisdiction. This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Solar Energy Guidelines (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 8GW of solar energy by 2030 in order to support our target of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables. Ireland now has circa 1.4GW of solar energy generation with significant further development needed to support Ireland’s economic growth and meet our growing energy demands. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in 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 almost...