Results 761-780 of 25,443 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Hedge Cutting (5 Mar 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (5 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Review informs the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with decarbonisation targets in both jurisdictions. The Review’s Final Report was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (5 Mar 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 (5 Mar 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: Legislative Programme (5 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not currently have any EU legislative proposals requiring transposition which are awaiting referral to a Joint Oireachtas Committee.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. He has strongly and passionately argued for this project. We will engage with TII around the feasibility of fast-tracking elements of the project, particularly the Tipperary town bypass. Other elements will require planning permission and to go through the process. We are committed to it, as the Deputy is. It will make a massive difference to residents in the area....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Aontaím le gach rud a bhí á rá ag an Teachta. Tuigim go bhfuil an scéim seo an-tábhachtach ar fad ar son na ndaoine i dTiobraid Árann. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuig an Teachta go luath nuair a bheidh nuacht nua agam faoi sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé ábalta dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar son na ndaoine i dTiobraid Árann, go...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy very much. I am aware that the progression of this project is of great interest to him and the local community. Indeed, I visited the area with him not so long ago and met community groups. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. While the greater portion of this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I do. I spent a fair bit of time with the Deputy in the region, including in Youghal and Castlemartyr. I met community groups too. I absolutely see the need for that. During the middle of the day, outside rush hour, you can see the level of traffic moving through. Colleagues and I have paid very particular attention to the submission I have received. I will be reviewing it. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Earlier, when answering other questions, both the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I were talking about the genuine importance of delivery during the term of this Government. We have many plans and strategies. We have seen improvements in our road network but the focus has got to be on delivering on projects. The point the Deputy made on multi-annual funding for roads is one I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Míle buíochas don Teachta as ucht a chomhghairdeas. I thank the Deputy for the question. This has long been a matter of concern to him and the people of Tipperary, particularly the residents of Tipperary town and those who use the N24. This project forms part of a 35 km improvement scheme for the N24 between Cahir in County Tipperary and Limerick Junction. The proposed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate the question. The Government’s position on this issue is clear – we look forward to delivering improved transport and an improved transport network for the people of Waterford, and to continue that over the coming years. In the city area, those improvements will be introduced in line with the Waterford metropolitan area transport strategy, which sets out a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is correct; we have discussed this privately. A number of Deputies are interested in this important project. In 2024, approximately €4.8 million was allocated to Waterford City and County Council, under the national roads network, for national roads in Waterford. Two major road projects of importance in Waterford are in the NDP, namely, the N24 and the N25, which is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. I am aware of how important this is. We will have national roads announcements in the coming weeks. I mentioned €4.8 million was allocated in 2024. Just two weeks ago, on 14 February, €23.6 million was also allocated to Waterford as part of the regional and local roads allocations. I am aware of the importance of the N25 and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste tábhachtaí faoi shábháilteacht phaisinéirí ar iompar phoiblí. As he will be acutely aware, antisocial behaviour is a broad societal issue to which public transport is unfortunately not immune. I have witnessed, as the Deputy will have in talking to his constituents, that this is a matter that really...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I was looking at the previous safety report and I was taken by the fact that 84% of respondents who were asked said that they felt safe on public transport. I am not disputing the numbers but I was quite surprised by that. It depends on the route. I use public transport. I am in the Dublin commuter zone. There are many other things that need to be done. On DART stations, I was pleased...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The training to secure a licence for a vehicle such as that is standardised and obviously involves road testing and so on. I have not had any complaints about different driving styles across Bus Átha Cliath, Go-Ahead Ireland or Bus Éireann, but that is obviously the experience the Deputy's constituent had. On safety, Dublin Bus took the bull by the horns in running its pilot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the poor performance issues on certain routes operated by Go-Ahead in the greater Dublin area. I highlighted this myself. It was brought to my attention my many commuters. As the Deputy knows, public transport service obligations are provided by both State and commercial operators under contract with the National Transport Authority. I assure the Deputy that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have impressed on the NTA the real importance of being customer and user focused. A lot of time is spent, and rightly so, on expanding our bus network and investing in infrastructure. However, existing routes need to be supported. I agree with the Deputy. The passenger or customer experience is critical to ensuring other people use public transport. Thankfully, because of the work done...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to update him on this. It was a Green Party commitment in its manifesto. It was a Fianna Fáil commitment as well that we have a transport security force and transport police supported by colleagues in the programme for Government. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Regional Independents have agreed that measure, and it is an important...