Results 1-20 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together. The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) aims to address the economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat extraction and electricity generation from peat. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JFT) aims to address the economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat extraction and electricity generation from peat. As at October 2025, 15 calls for funding have been launched, with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with Climate Action Plan Action EL/24/16, the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland was published by my Department in July 2024. Chapter 4 of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid connected electricity storage systems, including stationary battery electricity storage systems (S-BESS) in the European...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland is actively taking a range of measures to transpose the third Renewable Energy Directive (RED III, EU Directive 2023/2413) as soon as possible. RED III stipulates requirements for the permit-granting procedure for renewable energy projects, in addition to requirements designed to increase the share of renewable energy across the electricity, heat and transport sectors, as well as in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland is a world leader in onshore wind with over 5 GW of installed capacity. The continued operation of Ireland's fleet of onshore wind farms is critical to ensuring a secure and affordable energy supply to 2030 and beyond. Repowering of existing wind farms has the potential to deliver an increase in generation capacity, usually by replacing older, less efficient turbines with newer models...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Artificial Intelligence (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and are following recommendations provided in June 2023. All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. My Department does not use AI to conduct its systems or operations. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As my Department has been reconfigured on several occasions since 2000, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. I am advised that in the period since the formation of the previous and current Government, (2020 to date), the information sought is set out in the table below: Year ↓ Type of Consultancy → IT Management ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together. From an aviation safety perspective, the regulation of drone operations, including commercial drone delivery operations, is provided for by an EU regulatory framework that is directly applicable in Ireland. Two regulations, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, set out...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From an aviation safety perspective, the regulation of both the recreational and commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones, is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable in Ireland. Two regulations, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, set out common rules...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport. As such, the management of car parking, including the setting of prices, is a matter for daa and I have no role in this area. I can advise the Deputy that a new car park, Park2Travel, opened on 10 March 2025 and provides an extra 6,122 car parking spaces at Dublin Airport. This new...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (22 Oct 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 query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has established an AI steering group to ensure the safe and well-governed introduction of AI, aiming to assess potential efficiency gains within the Department. Chaired at the Assistant Secretary General level. This cross-cutting group involves the HR, IT, Data Analytics, Data Protection and Communications divisions. Additionally, the Department collaborates with its agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (22 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised that the Deputy's Office has clarified the request for data is from the earliest available date, rather than from 2000. Information regarding the data requested for the period 2020-2025 is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days, in line with the Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Child Protection (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government fully recognises the State’s obligation to prioritise rapid and effective emissions reductions to protect the rights and welfare of children, in line with Ireland’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the UN Committee’s General Comment No. 26. Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department will establish technical assistance facilities for the energy performance of buildings, in line with Article 18 of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), to assist all building owners and actors involved in energy renovations who wish to retrofit or renovate their building to achieve better energy performance with a focus on vulnerable households, people...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 213, 214, 217, 218, 222, 223, 224 and 228 together. My Department continues to oversee the preparation of Irelands draft national Social Climate Plan in consultation with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission. On 11 September 2025, I launched a six-week open and public stakeholder consultation to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Data (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is committed to achieving the climate ambition as expressed in the National Climate Objective and set out in the Programme for Government. This is something that I am very focussed on as Minister, and I will continue to work closely with the Taoiseach and other members of government to realise this ambition. I am also deeply conscious of the need to deliver a transition that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department did not undertake any tendering processes for public infrastructure projects during the 2020 through 2024, inclusive.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Usage (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Various steps are being taken by my Department and relevant bodies under its aegis to support the deployment of demand flexibility technologies. As referenced in the CRU led National Energy Demand Strategy, front of meter, grid connected electricity storage can assist with demand flexibility on the distribution system. Action #6 of the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Usage (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is acutely aware that with the scale of distributed renewable electricity generation sources coming forward, the grid needs to be more flexible to account for the intermittent nature of renewables. Moreover, for the decarbonisation pathway to be efficient, our energy system must be smart. A smart and flexible energy system will reduce consumer energy bills by reducing the...