Results 2,261-2,280 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Millions of single-use cups are sent to landfill or incineration every year in Ireland. This is an entirely avoidable waste and I want to encourage people to prevent it by enjoying their on-the-go drink in a reusable cup. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, Ireland’s national waste policy, sets out a range of measures to tackle the waste and litter caused by single use...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has the natural resources to become a world leader in the production of green energy. With our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland’s coast is potentially one of the most energy productive in Europe. Ireland has a sea area approximately seven times the size of our landmass, with wind resources which are amongst the best in the world. Hydrogen represents one of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was set up in 2022 to deliver a system-wide plan across Government to accelerate and drive delivery of Ireland’s offshore wind targets and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. IDA Ireland has been an active participant in the Taskforce since its establishment. ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The phased deployment of offshore wind technology will make a critical contribution towards achieving Ireland’s legally binding climate objectives and will further address the twin crises of energy security and affordability through accelerating the green energy transition. As highlighted from experience in other jurisdictions, establishing an indigenous offshore wind sector will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (20 Feb 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. In the Programme for Government we also set out our commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following the outcome of the independent “National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers”, directed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) announced in 2023 that the eligible research stipend budget contribution for SEAI-funded PhD students was increasing from...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The National Biomethane Strategy, published in May 2024, outlines the necessary supports and structures required to achieve Government’s target of 5.7 TWh of indigenous biomethane production by 2030. One area of importance identified within the strategy is the need for community engagement, which is directly linked to actions requiring the development of a Communications Strategy and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25), which is currently in the process of being submitted to Government, builds upon the actions, measures, policies and plans set out in Climate Action Plan 2024. A process to update and refine the plan in the context of the latest reports from the Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Advisory Council and Climate Action Plan progress reports was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (20 Feb 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. In the Programme for Government we also set out our commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As a Member State of the European Union, Ireland submits a joint Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with its EU partners. As per Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, Parties, including regional economic integration organizations (such as the EU) and their member States, may submit joint NDCs subject to certain conditions being met and the notification of this intention to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Supply Board (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) supports delivery of our Climate Action Plan target of meeting 80% of electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2030. In 2023, my Department staged our first offshore wind auction under the RESS, known as ORESS 1. Of the six participants in the auction, four were successful and were awarded supports under the RESS. These four...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Supply Board (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer the Deputy to the reply provided to Question Number 114 of 22 October 2024, which is summarised below. The position has not altered in the interim. Details of projects successful in each of the RESS auctions are publicly available on the EirGrid RESS website, and RESS projects which have energised and are eligible for PSO support are listed on the annual PSO Statutory Instrument,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme. The primary objective of the scheme is to support and maximise the number of home energy upgrades delivered. Non-domestic projects are also supported to encourage broader community engagement and mobilisation. Other objectives include:Building capacity by working with project co-ordinators on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Deposit Return Scheme (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take PQs 141, 142 and 144 together. The collection, processing and recycling of containers returned via the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an operational matter for the DRS operator, Re-turn. While I have no function in relation to the award of contracts, I can confirm a tender process for the collection and processing of DRS material was completed by Re-turn and contracts were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Deposit Return Scheme (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As with all Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), deposits which are not redeemed are retained by the operator and are reinvested exclusively for the development of the scheme. As the return rate improves, the level of unredeemed deposits will reduce considerably however the funds available are invested in a range of measures to promote and improve collection rates including: Improving reverse...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: E-scooters (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024 (SI 199 of 2024) set out requirements for e-scooter construction, equipment and use while being operated in public places, including speed, location and age restrictions. In addition, the Road Traffic Act 2010 (Part 3) (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2024 (SI 227 of 2024) provide for fixed charge penalties of €50 for certain...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting, and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions including, in some cases, School Zones. These projects should help alleviate congestion at school gates...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (20 Feb 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 (20 Feb 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...