Results 26,341-26,360 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 98 and 102 together. I thank an Teachta Ó Cearúil. For background, the next generation ticketing project, led by the NTA, is for a new, modern public transport ticketing system that will facilitate a variety of payment methods for passengers, including contactless. In April 2024, the NTA with Government approval entered into a multiyear...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Neville may have missed the final part of my answer. TFI has the TFI Go app in place, and we have Leap cards as an interim measure as well. The point is taken, however. Many of the resources will be used in implementing this new system. Obviously, some will be used to design it but most will be used to implement it. I have a more detailed breakdown of the major release phases....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank both Deputies for their support. I will meet the NTA and Indra Sistemas, which is developing this system. I will try to secure more specific timelines from the company. It has been very helpful so far. Work is progressing very well. On the contractual arrangements, I do not have that detail right now. I commit to reverting to both Deputies with an update on this after I meet...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Currie for her question. Since 2020, over €18.75 million has been invested in bus services alone in Dublin West, reflecting a really strong and ongoing commitment to improving public transport in the area. This includes funding for both new routes and enhancements to existing services. Notably, new routes introduced over the period include the L52, introduced in 2020,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: BusConnects is going to make a real difference. It was held up for many reasons. I would suggest that there were initially route design flaws in much of the BusConnects project when it was first published, but that has been rectified. As I said earlier in response to a question, we will see the first BusConnects corridor under construction this year. We have three that are through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I was.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Regarding what the Green Party might say in Dublin West, the Green Party held the transport portfolio in the previous Government. Having said that, the Government is responsible for the delivery of all services across the board and we are heavily committed to public transport. That is why I mentioned earlier this evening the debate we had last week. We have seen a record number of public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Moynihan. The Government earmarked about €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of the national road network as part of the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030. As the Deputy knows, the NDP is under review. That includes funding to renew pavement on the new network. In addition, €5.1 billion was earmarked for investment in new national roads projects....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I know the volume of traffic on the N22 is high and increasing. The paving is poor. The Deputy mentioned potholes. Following his intervention through this parliamentary question, I will make direct contact to see what remedial works can be done in the interim. I cannot say if funding will be reallocated later this year. We have just recently allocated the 2025 funding but I will ask....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (24 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy may take from the fact that we have done a lot of the preparatory work on design and preparation for the schemes in Castlemore and Kilcondy that we want to see them proceed to the next stage. That will be the logical step going forward into 2026. We will make sure that happens. The Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, and I have increased our roads funding this year...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the Climate Action Plan (action EL/24/16), the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland was published by my Department in July 2024. Chapter four of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid scale electricity storage systems, including battery electricity storage systems in the European and Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable scheme was designed in 2022 and is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in conjunction with Energy Suppliers. It is a matter for each Energy Supplier whether to participate in the scheme or not and enter into a contract with the SEAI to provide the scheme to their customers. Each Energy Supplier is responsible for contacting...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fishing Industry (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no cap in place on the number of recreational salmon angling licences which may be issued in Ireland. That said, and more importantly in the context of the sustainability of the species, there are restrictions on the number of salmon that anglers can catch and keep, and which rivers are permitted to open for salmon angling. These measures are set annually based on scientific...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Grant Payments (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of 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 carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fishing Industry (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The operation of the Cong Hatchery is a day to day operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) as the independent State Agency with statutory responsibility for the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. I am advised that no decision has been taken by IFI to cease operations of Cong Salmon Hatchery in County Galway so the question of notice does...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (25 Jun 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 (25 Jun 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: Road Projects (25 Jun 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: Greenways Provision (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has a significant amount of investment in the Midleton to Youghal Greenway to date by my Department with an investment in excess of €20,000,000. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including together with Iarnród Éireann, car parking at Kildare town train...