Results 361-380 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Exchequer Payments (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his amended question, as follows: To ask the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of any Exchequer funding received by Kerry airport between 2012 and 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. In addition to the information provided to the Deputy recently in relation to the period 2016 to date, I can advise that Exchequer supports...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network and stations on the network, including the train station at Farrenfore and any any potential change in its location, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. In view of Iarnród Éireann's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government commits to continuing to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. I can assure the Deputy that this new Programme is being progressed by my department as a matter of priority with a view to its publication this year.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disability Services (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of integrated, accessible public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Department and the aim of the eSPSV Grant Scheme is to increase the uptake of fully electric SPSVs and zero emission capable wheelchair accessible SPSVs. The Scheme is funded by the Department of Transport and administered by the National Transport Authority of Ireland (NTA). However, it should be noted that the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Consultations (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recently undertook a public consultation concerning the award of additional certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, provided for by the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 (Additional Certificates for Renewable Transport Fuel) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 143 of 2023) incentivising supply of certain renewable fuels supporting delivery of EU renewable energy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has undertaken two public consultations on the draft Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2025-2027, involving the transition to renewable energy in transport and setting out a policy pathway for delivery of the 2030 transport targets set out in the Climate Action Plan as agreed by Government, as well as the targets and requirements under the European Renewable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (29 May 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: Departmental Projects (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of park and ride facilities. Park and ride can intercept car trips where people are reliant on private car at an early viable...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority. On...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (29 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources. On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Local Authorities (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13, 36, 37 and 38 together. Local authorities are at the forefront of local Climate Planning and Action in Ireland, making the national climate goals and policies work at a local level to assist in the delivery of the national climate objective. A Business Case submitted by the CCMA to DECC in 2022 to support the Local Authority Climate Action Plans...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme is available to owner-occupied properties, based on the householder being in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection (DSP) income supports. The scheme is available to owner-occupied homes built before 2006 where the household meets the DSP payment-related eligibility criteria. The average value of upgrades provided in Q1 of 2025 is just under €29,000...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 17 and 18 together. The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established on 17 July 2023 and is fully funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. Total outturn from the point of establishment to end 2023 was €1,447,428. Full year outturn for 2024 was €4,763,425. While, under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: While, under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, recruitment of staff by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) is subject to sanction from me as Minister as well as the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the allocation of approved staff is a matter for MARA. MARA has a budget of €5.16m toward payroll related costs and, recruiting within the confines of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. Since January 2023, all producers...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authority staffing is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. My Department is now preparing a draft Social Climate Plan in consultation with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission. A variety of targeted measures aimed at providing long-term solutions to reduce fossil fuels reliance and effectively help vulnerable groups impacted by the rising price of carbon are being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland’s National Cyber Security Strategy, published in 2019, came to a close at the end of 2024 and preparations for the successor strategy are underway. The 2019 strategy set out 20 collaborative measures to enhance the cyber security and resilience of public bodies, providers of essential services, businesses and households, to support the continued development of the cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Cyber Security Bill is the legislative vehicle which transposes the revised Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) and provides the provisions that places National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on a statutory footing. Substantial work has been completed by my Department on the transposition of the NIS2 Directive. NIS2 is a complex piece of legislation requiring a...