Results 24,601-24,620 of 26,778 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerates...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (6 Mar 2025)

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

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department did not provide any costings to DPENDR earlier in 2025 and are not aware of any such NDP review conducted in that period.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (6 Mar 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 issues raised by the Deputy in relation to delays and overcrowding are operational matters for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years and reaching climate targets. Reaching our targets for public charging will be facilitated by a mix of public funds and private sector investment and will feature a mix of different charging types, such as AC type on-street charging and DC type...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Exchequer supports totalling over €23 million were provided to Kerry Airport by my Department between 2016-2024. As requested by the Deputy, please see the table below, which provides a breakdown of this funding over this period. TOTAL AVIATION SUPPORTS PROVIDED TO KERRY AIRPORT 2016-2024 FUNDING PROGRAMME/SCHEME GRANT SCHEME 2016 2017 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. The Department of Transport also emphasises to local authorities the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) was held in 2023. The North Irish Sea Array (NISA) project was one of four projects that were successful in the auction and were awarded a Contract for Difference (CFD) under the Scheme. I understand that the project holds a grid connection offer for its planned 500 megawatt (MW) capacity and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Information and Communications Technology (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is being researched and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days, in line with the Standing Orders.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following the damage caused to the Telecoms networks by Storm Éowyn, my colleague Minister O’Donovan met with senior executives of both mobile and fixed telecoms providers to reflect on the lessons to be learned, and measures to be considered to build further resilience into telecommunications networks to avoid, where feasible and practicable, a reoccurrence of the same level of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 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 ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Community Energy Grant Scheme supports cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building type including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits, encompassing energy-poor, private, rental, and approved housing body homes. Last year, 683 home energy upgrades were supported...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Individual applications to the Warmer Homes Scheme are an operational matter for the SEAI and, as Minister, I have no role in such matters. The SEAI has established a dedicated email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that there were no secondments from consulting firms to my Department since 2020. Secondees to my Department since 2020 were drawn from the civil service, the public sector and semi-state companies.

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not entered into any contract, held discussions on or received any offers in respect of the use of the hotel referred to in the question. My Department does not own or lease any property. All premises occupied by my officials are either State owned or leased by the OPW on behalf of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Yield (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The table below shows the amount of motor tax collected from 1 January 2022 to 1 December 2024 for Tipperary. The amounts do not include receipts for registration books, trade plates, trailer licences or refunds. - 2022 2023 2024 TIPPERARY €34,544,094 €34,648,937 €34,934,278

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Information and Communications Technology (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The total number of copper based communication lines used by the Department of Transport is 100. This number continues to reduce as we move services away from using copper lines to fibre optic based media.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 235 and 238 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by them. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: EV Charging Infrastructure at the state's airports is mainly provided at the discretion of the airports at these locations. daa announced 20 environmental sustainability initiatives being rolled out at Dublin and Cork Airports last year which will accelerate both airports’ climate and sustainability related ambitions. This includes the completion of work on over 20 additional...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (20 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing and technology projects. The NTA's Next Generation Ticketing project is to provide for an upgraded ticketing system to facilitate a...