Results 281-300 of 28,457 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, I am a prescribed body under the Planning and Development Acts to be notified of the application for the proposed development by An Coimisiún Pleanála. I was notified on 26 September 2025 by MKO on behalf of their client, Neoen Renewables Ireland Ltd., that an application would be made to An Coimisiún Pleanála for a...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not own any vacant buildings in Dublin 2, 4, 6 or 6w. The Department occupies a single building in Dublin 4, which serves as the Department's headquarters. This premises is owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The information sought in the Question is an operational matter for each of the State bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my...

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

Darragh O'Brien: All 31 local authorities adopted Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LA CAPs) by Q1 2024, as required under the Climate Act 2021. In 2022, my Department approved a funding proposal to allocate resources to local authorities to develop and implement their LA CAPs over three phases:Phase 1: Establish the Evidence Base, Resource Requirements, Delivery of the National Climate Action Plan 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Climate Plan (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is currently no proposal from the European Commission to simplify the Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2) or the Social Climate Fund. Any legislative proposal from the Commission will be considered carefully by both the European Council and the European Parliament. Ireland fully supports the ETS2 and the Social Climate Fund as legislated for.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, and subsequent legislation. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. However, officials from my Department correspond with the CRU on an ongoing basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Corps (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme. DART+ Coastal North will extend DART overhead electrified wires to Drogheda and will significantly increase the peak hour...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (21 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 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: Public Transport (21 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 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: Bus Services (21 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. Further, Bus Éireann's Expressway services, including route 51, is a commercial bus service and responsibility for the operation of the service is a matter for the company. I have, therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. As a commercial semi-state body, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) are responsible for the provision of pension schemes for their employees. Regarding the recent engagement between CIÉ and the Trade Union Group (TUG)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law – the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply – and the standards for testing drivers are set at EU level. Driver licensing laws are intended to ensure drivers on our...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Budget 2026 (21 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to reassure the Deputy that improving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The National Transport Authority (NTA) plays a central role in achieving this, as they have statutory responsibility for securing the provision...