Results 31,061-31,080 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. The response went from "This is the end of the world" to "Oh my God, this is brilliant". It proved the case. Looking at the route through the lens of today, what we have on the Stillorgan road is not good enough. Getting down to the very local, the question is about what Donnybrook village, for instance, is for. Is it a distributor road for cars into the city centre or is it a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am fixated on those southern orbital routes because they are a dramatic change and provide a very good-quality service. I am sad in that I like to count the numbers as I watch buses go by. The public flocks to good public transport. I am told the routes are really taking off, with the numbers doing very well. I had a meeting with the board of Dublin Bus two weeks ago. What came out of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I will answer by going back to what the Cathaoirleach said that it would be very good to the BusConnects plan, the network and corridors – it is a big complex project – concluded by the end of this decade. I agree with him. For where we are now, that would be a great outcome and we should make sure it happens but that is not satisfactory because it started in 2016 or 2017, so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: That is the timeframe you would expect given the history - it is a big building project in the end. It requires significant tunnelling and building of underground stations. It will take some time. On the legal system, I agree with the Cathaoirleach. What was a stay on the decision – it was not a-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There have been developments that give some signs of encouragement. The Planning and Development Act is designed– I hope it does not get caught in the judicial review process to the same extent – to streamline the process. There have been positive developments recently, such as the decision to establish and create judges for the environmental court. We are starting to see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I will make one last point if I can, unless the Chair is coming back to the Senator on the airport cap.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Perhaps I will comment on that point then. The airport cap and the metro were mentioned at the same time. They are connected. The airport cap came from our planning system and not our political system. It came from a recognition that we were really constrained on our roads around the M1 and the M50. The M1 is our busiest, most congested and most constrained road system, as are the roads...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I will start with that. I agree with the Cathaoirleach. We have to think long term. Dublin and the surrounding counties are going to continue to develop. We need the metro. The strategic rail review did look at this issue, especially the capacity constraints on the M1 coming from north to south. While it is a longer-term recommendation, it recommended an interurban rail spur going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: That still stacks up today. It is poignant and appropriate to today. If I was putting a slogan out, I would add a third clause. I would say, "A lot done. More to do. A lot to lose." If we do not provide the investment, we could lose a lot. What this Government has particularly changed is the investment in active travel and public transport. It is not anti-car. We invested very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It also does not work for housing. We looked at a figure in the context of the national planning framework yesterday. Greenfield, car-based development puts an additional €115,000 on every housing unit compared with going with development based on public transport and compact development. It puts a cost of €115,000 on the Irish household. Not only does it cost you cash...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Performance Report 2023: Department of Transport (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator Horkan. There has always been a good culture in our committees. We do need to be informed and inform each other by listening. I also thank the officials, the clerk and everyone else. These are the bowels of the building but it is where you learn. Knowledge is power in politics. If you treat the committees seriously, get engaged and involved, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Pensions (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested is currently being compiled by my Department, and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish Government has ambitious climate and energy targets to successfully transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. Gas demand is expected to drop significantly through the course of the decade from 2030 and production of renewable gases are set to increase as well as the introduction of renewable gas compatible storage. This will enable security of supply benefits to be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Through the first two RESS auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund for all RESS projects. To ensure genuine community participation in the separate community category of RESS, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Community Enabling Framework was launched in 2022. It provides a range of supports, including grant funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered from SEAI to community renewable energy projects, to help them participate in the RESS. To date, two community projects (both under RESS 1 in 2022), including one solar and one wind, have received...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. National Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. National Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has responsibility for the National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP), with ESB Networks (ESBN) delivering the roll-out across the country, on a phased basis. However, I understand that the proposed 3-phase smart meter solution encountered some technical issues which has delayed the planned roll-out date. ESBN have since identified a solution for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (6 Nov 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme is a free energy upgrade scheme which aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in or at risk of energy poverty. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of the and is funded through the Exchequer and the European Regional Development Fund. ...