Results 4,401-4,420 of 6,812 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of bids received for the most recent driver licence service contract; the value of the contract; if the number of offices available to run the service was considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12909/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the modelling used to develop the Connecting Ireland rural transport plan; the number of scenarios that were examined in preparation of the plan; the range of investment needed for each scenario and the frequency and coverage each would deliver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12910/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has reviewed the position on the transferability of taxi plates in view of the changed circumstances for many drivers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13026/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the work of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles; the dates it met in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of vacancies currently on the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13027/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy - Ambition and Challenges: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Coyle for his presentation. I have a couple of quick questions. Sinn Féin tabled an Opposition Private Members' Bill that talked about the opportunity of offshore wind and the need for an industrial development authority for the sea. In Mr. Coyle's experience, is it more a case that the Industrial Development Authority, IDA, and Enterprise Ireland have the capacity but it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy - Ambition and Challenges: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: My questions are for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The cost of renewables came up in our earlier session in terms of the delivery task force for offshore wind. Will that have a cost dimension? We are an outlier in terms of the cost of renewables. Are auctions and the potential of further auctions to deliver further high-cost electricity within the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy - Ambition and Challenges: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a clear question about Shaping Our Electricity Future. There is a list of 48 grid reinforcement projects. Has EirGrid given the Department a timeline for when they will be completed with dates and, if so, can Mr. Finucane share them with us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy - Ambition and Challenges: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Mr. Finucane pointed towards the auction as a mechanism for driving down costs. Is the Department taking additional measures? Is it concerned about Ireland being an outlier in terms of the cost of renewables and are there specific initiatives it is taking to address that?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his opening statement and update. We are here to discuss the transfer of €128.6 million from subhead B4 - residential and community retrofit - to subhead B11. We discussed this move previously but were not clear about where and to what level the funding would be moved and where it would come from. The Minister acknowledged that transfer but said the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not deny the headline figures outlined by the Minister in terms of the budget and spend. We will no doubt spend a lot of time in the months and years ahead tracking that and ensuring it gets delivered. However, it does not address the decision to move €128.6 million. The better energy communities scheme has been identified as one that must reduce its spend in the year ahead....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I have one question and I hope to be able to provide assurance to people. There is concern that there is an issue with supply of transport fuel and home heating oil. Is that the case? I am hearing different things in different places. It is important to hear what the Minister has to say about it. I appreciate the difficult context we are in. In the days, weeks and months ahead, how will...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (8 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the Minister doing anything about regulation? He mentioned what was reported in the newspapers. My second question related to the timeline for decisions from Government to mitigate the problem.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister has just said that planning takes an inordinate amount of time. We are on notice there will be opposition to this plan when it comes. That is the nature of privilege. We hear it through the national airwaves. The Minister said the planning process takes an inordinate amount of time and there is a balance of rights to be struck between development and environmental impact....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister is hearing this from all quarters. The opportunity is available. If one maps our rail infrastructure and our forced car dependency, there has to be very significant development if we are to achieve a modal shift. Much of that will be to an improved public bus network, but rail has a very important role to play. I am speaking about Navan but also about the west and north west....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of submissions received for the all-island rail review; the next steps in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12131/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his response. There is a great opportunity here and we have made submissions to the overall rail review. The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications is looking at various aspects of this. I will mention two of these. The Minister has already discussed the western rail corridor, WRC, and some of the opportunity this presents. This is an ambition that needs...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The challenge here is clear. For hauliers, particularly small hauliers with several lorries on the road, the margins are squeezed unbelievably because of the increasing cost of fuel. What has the Government done in response? Based on the reply of the Minister of State, the answer is "Nothing". It has done nothing to respond to the runaway fuel prices. When I raised this with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is a matter of urgency at this stage. The ball is firmly in the Government's court in terms of coming up with solutions. The hauliers have put their hands up. They are crying out for support. The Minister of State mentioned the alternatively fuelled heavy-duty vehicle purchase grant scheme. Approximately 60 vehicles bought under that scheme are currently parked up because they are not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Coast Guard Service (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the steps taken to identify and resolve issues between volunteers and management at the Irish Coast Guard; the status of the reconstitution of the Doolin Coast Guard unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12311/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Coast Guard Service (3 Mar 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister of State the status of the steps taken to identify and resolve issues between volunteers and management of the Irish Coast Guard generally, and the status of the reconstitution of the Doolin Coast Guard unit.