Results 3,021-3,040 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 19, line 22, after "State" to insert "and after both Houses of the Oireachtas have approved the proposal by means of a vote". This is a straightforward amendment. As the Minister of State will be aware, my party is generally supportive of the Bill. As we have outlined, it prescribes very significant powers to the Minister. Our amendment merely seeks to...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for the detailed and considered response. On that basis, I will withdraw the amendment with leave for further consideration and perhaps introduce it or something related on Report Stage.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (24 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of onshore and offshore wind turbines constructed in each of the years from 2000 to 2022, in tabular form. [3355/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 351. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; the stage of the process this school is at; when works on a permanent school building will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2885/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 352. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; the stage of the process this school is at; when works on a permanent school building will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2886/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister is aware that party colleagues have raised this repeatedly. I want to point towards the private security spend of our bus and rail operators and the impact this has on driver recruitment. It is a huge challenge in deterring people from using public transport. The Minister points towards CCTV, which is an after-the-fact matter. It is clear it is not having the impact. When...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 3. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that he will take to ensure the safety of public transport workers and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2409/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister the measures he will take to ensure the safety of public transport workers and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: People will be familiar with the bus routes in Tallaght - 27, 65B and 77A - that were curtailed in recent days because of the antisocial behaviour, intimidation and threatening behaviour of, in some cases, mobs against other passengers and transport workers. There have been some very graphic accounts given by individual bus drivers. In one case, a lady going by the pseudonym of "Debbie"...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement that he has had to date with the operators of the National Car Test Service, NCTS, regarding long wait times for tests and proposed changes to work practices; when backlogs will be addressed; if he has met with trade unions in relation to the concerns of workers in the NCTS; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to ask about the delays for NCT tests and about the backlog. How are they being addressed in terms of staffing, recruitment hours, overtime and in the proposed changes to work practices, which have been overwhelmingly opposed by workers? I extend my best wishes to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, in his new role and I ask him to outline how these backlogs will be addressed.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: We have those figures of 595 inspectors and seven in training. The backlog is getting longer, as reported. For mid-January it is 26.5 days and for mid-September and October time it was 24.1 days. The backlog is getting longer and I can see that in the next available test in Greenhills being at the end of August. The next available test in Drogheda is on 18 September and in Kells it is 1...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: On existing capacity, there are 595 inspectors and seven in training. Does the Department have a clear workforce plan for recruitment for this year, for example? The Minister of State mentioned overtime but NCT workers are contacting me and saying there is overtime available but that the NCTS is not paying overtime rates. It is not giving time-and-a-half so very few inspectors are taking...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement that he has had with the DAA in relation to the serious issue that has arisen whereby planes taking off from the new north runway are using flight paths different to those submitted in the planning application for the runway; if he appreciates the need to address the legitimate noise concerns affected residents are now...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to reports of the difficulties taxi drivers are facing accessing grants for electric vehicles due to the delay in the delivery of new vehicles coupled with the failure to roll over or extend the deadline for applications; the way he intends to support the further roll-out of electric vehicles in the taxi...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on Project Bruce and plans to provide a sustainable funding stream for roads maintenance and repair as Ireland moves towards low- and zero-emissions vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2414/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a 2022 end-of year-report on the Connecting Ireland plan; the funding that was allocated and spent and the services that have been delivered; the funding that is allocated for 2023; the services that are expected to be delivered in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2411/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 95. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he will take to ensure Irish ports are equipped to deliver on offshore wind targets; if he will outline State and other planned ports investments for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2410/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 177. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average and median waiting times in each NCT centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2505/23]

Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill this afternoon. I will share time with my colleagues. It is a 20-minute slot. I will take ten minutes and allow five minutes each for Deputies Cronin and Martin Browne. I regret that the Minister is ushering through yet another Bill at breakneck speed without sufficient parliamentary scrutiny. This method is becoming the norm for the...