Results 25,721-25,740 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (14 May 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Landing Slots (14 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 8(1) of the Aviation Regulation Act 2001, as amended, provides that the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the competent authority in Ireland for the purposes of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 95/93 that concerns the allocation of slots at airports in the EU. The IAA is responsible for the determination of the coordination parameters at Dublin Airport, and the appointment of an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (14 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the deputy will be aware, compliance with planning conditions attached to planning permissions at our State airports is a matter for the entities granted those permissions and enforcement is a matter for the relevant planning authorities. daa has the statutory responsibility for the operation, management and development of Dublin Airport, including matters related to planning.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus (14 May 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 Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Coastal Protection (15 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tellus airborne geophysical survey managed by my Department, surveyed an area between Doonbeg Co. Clare and Tarbert Co Kerry on 10 May 2025. The national 'Tellus' programme collects airborne geophysical and ground geochemical data which can be used to help map Ireland's geology and provide environmental baseline survey data. The airborne survey started in 2011 in Co. Donegal and has been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: One agency, AirNav Ireland, was established by my Department in the last 10 years. It was established on 1 May 2023 with no cost to the state. It is funded by charges on airlines for its services. On 1 May 2023, the air navigation service provider functions of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) were separated into the new standalone commercial semi state body, AirNav Ireland. On the same date...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (15 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under EU legislation, the operator of an airport (daa in the case of Dublin airport) is responsible for the design and maintenance of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs). At Dublin airport, AirNav Ireland carries out the design and maintenance function on behalf of daa. The Irish Aviation Authority, as civil aviation safety regulator, is responsible for ensuring that IFPs adhere to safety...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (15 May 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 operation and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (15 May 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 (15 May 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Environmental Impact Assessments (15 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 203, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to finalising and implementing a policy framework to guide high-level strategic planning and development of the drone sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while ensuring safe and secure operations and addressing environmental and other concerns. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (15 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 provides for the corporate structure of the Irish Aviation Authority and for the governance roles of the Ministers for Transport and Public Expenditure & Reform in respect of such corporate structure. The IAA 1993 Act provides for matters separate and distinct from the Protected Disclosures Act. While the request referred to in the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The Programme for Government set out the commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with commitments in the Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan, the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched in April 2024. The scheme will play a crucial role in helping homeowners to invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. The scheme was developed by my Department, in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 296 together. My Department funds a range of the SEAI supports 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 heat pump installations and homes retrofitted to B2 or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested which has been provided by the SEAI is set out in the following tables. Please note that the retrofit figures represent grants provided through SEAI, while Solar PV on new homes are typically installed to meet Building Regulation requirements. As per the latest figures from ESB Networks, the total number of microgenerators connected to the grid is approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Consultations (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department has a range of sources it can draw upon for scientific expertise, knowledge and evidence, including a number of technical and scientific units in the Department, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) (which is a Division of the Department), several agencies under the Department’s aegis, (including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Geoscience Policy Division in my Department is responsible for maintaining, developing and promoting geoscience policy and regulatory frameworks for the minerals, petroleum and geothermal sectors to support a circular economy and a well-protected environment. The Geoscience Regulation Office of my Department is responsible for the regulation of minerals exploration and mining. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Petroleum Affairs Division no longer exists in my Department. Since January 2021, the regulation of minerals exploration and mining and the remaining petroleum authorisations has been carried out by the Geoscience Regulation Office in my Department. As outlined in the 2022 Policy Statement on Petroleum Exploration and Production, the Department is no longer accepting new applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (13 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna (BnM) is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department, established under the Turf Development Act 1998. BnM is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. The Board and management of BnM are accountable for the strategic direction and management of the organisation. My Department is responsible for the corporate governance oversight of BnM,...