Results 421-440 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, 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 MetroLink. Capital allocations for 2026 will not be finalised until the end of the current year and therefore a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the public transport sector in line with the Climate Action Plan. No new diesel-only buses have been purchased for urban public service obligation bus fleets since July 2019, as set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The transition  to a zero-emission urban bus fleet is currently programmed to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (28 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure, including the provision of funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in support of public bike-sharing schemes in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.  Matters related to the day-to-day operations, management and expansion of these public...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. The recently published SEAI Interim Energy Balance report for 2024 notes that there was a 1.3% decrease in energy-related emissions in 2024, including a 7.5% reduction in emissions from electricity generation, and a 1.2% reduction in transport emissions, though there was a 2.4% increase in heating emissions. In 2024, the gross supply of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. The recently published SEAI Interim Energy Balance report for 2024 notes that there was a 1.3% decrease in energy-related emissions in 2024, including a 7.5% reduction in emissions from electricity generation, and a 1.2% reduction in transport emissions, though there was a 2.4% increase in heating emissions. In 2024, the gross supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 131, 132, 133, 134 and 135 together. The information sought in the Questions are operational matters for Bord na Móna, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact Bord na Mona directly in relation to this matter at oireachtas@bnm.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently progressing amendments to the Air Pollution Act 1987 to strengthen the enforcement powers of the Local Authorities to ensure that solid fuel is compliant with prescribed standards to reduce the impact of solid fuel on our health and the environment. The proposed amendments include provisions to ensure that the labelling, registration and advertising of solid fuels...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example dialysis machines,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government committed to promoting the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) to simplify market access for community owned solar and wind projects. Through the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Irish electricity grid is resilient but, as seen with Storm Éowyn, the impact of storms and climate change cannot be underestimated. Notwithstanding that Government does not direct System Operators to particular types of technologies, I met with representatives from the CRU and ESB Networks on the 31 January to discuss the Storm Éowyn response and the impact on customers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The premises in question and its surrounding area are in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on the Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/ . The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Business Supports (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government contains the commitment that the Government will support the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) and transfer responsibility to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As NDRC is primarily a set of supports for early-stage digital businesses and enterprise delivered under a commercial contract, and start-up ecosystem supports are closely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to the Deputy's question, framework based procurements are not reported in my Department's Annual accounts.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There were four drawdowns from frameworks by my Department from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024, valued over €25,000 where contract award notices were not published. Details of the four contracts are set out in the table below: No. Framework Name and Description Contract title Reason for non publication of Contract Award Notice (CAN) ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Official Travel (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025. The Conference aims to support further and urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners, business and communities improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. These schemes include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation) as well as solar PV and heat pump...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (27 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The EU - UK summit which took place on 19th May marks the beginning of an ambitious new phase of EU-UK cooperation, to the benefit of people and businesses across our continent and across the island of Ireland. It is welcome that both sides have reached agreement on a strategic partnership and a forward-looking agenda for cooperation targeted at improving opportunities for their citizens. ...