Results 821-840 of 6,781 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Moving Together: A Strategic Approach to Improving the Efficiency of Ireland’s Transport System: Minister for Transport and Communications (3 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. I want to ask about school transport and the Minister's sense of the opportunity that is there. I have to say it frustrates me as to how many of the gaps are not filled by local services and the potential that is there for scheduled services. We have increasing services through Connecting Ireland and Local Link and it is hoped we will have more in the years ahead. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Moving Together: A Strategic Approach to Improving the Efficiency of Ireland’s Transport System: Minister for Transport and Communications (3 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: There is very welcome investment in main street upgrades. It is active travel spend really. I can see it in my county where there is significant investment in roads infrastructure, in line with plans. There is always an issue about whether a road is too narrow and about the upheaval during the works period. Some of this upheaval has gone on for an extended period. I can point to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 84. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration was given by the Institute of Public Administration to sell its buildings on Lansdowne Road and move to high end commercial offices or to decentralising outside of Dublin or moving to any other area; if his Department has been assured that public procurement rules have been adhered to; and if he will make a statement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to Construction Sector: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for coming in. I will continue on the same theme. On the barriers to retrofitting, it strikes me the default position seems to be demolition and rebuild rather than retrofitting or refitting. Will both organisations touch on some of the barriers as they see them? The next issue is for CIF. I see many recently-developed housing estates. I am in County Meath and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to Construction Sector: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is one of them, although they have drumlins in Monaghan and they manage to beat us. What of that policy of burying waste soil and covering it with a lawn of grass? Maybe CIF can start with that one and we can touch on the retrofitting barriers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy as it relates to Construction Sector: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Mr. Fitzpatrick think that equation will change with a change in regime, increased circularity and everything we are talking about here? How does he think a change in the regime in the sense of increasing the amount of circularity, the reuse of construction and demolition waste will work? Will that lend itself to more demolition or less?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (2 Jul 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 422. To ask the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) will be provided with Section 39 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/24]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: We have the comprehensive accommodation strategy for international protection and part of that is to provide State-provided accommodation for asylum seekers. There are a number of earmarked sites, including Thornton Hall. It is almost a month ago today that we had a formal briefing on Thornton Hall's identification for State accommodation for asylum seekers but we have not had an update...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: There is now an indication the CRU will act on section 45 of the 1999 electricity Act to move for a CPO of lands and will outline the process in that regard in the coming weeks. That is a recipe for conflict, in my opinion. If the Minister wants to see this project delivered he needs to go plan B at this stage. The project will not be delivered in the way that EirGrid or the Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: How many megawatts of community-owned renewable energy are currently energised and how many more megawatts will be needed in order meet the 2030 target? It seems clear that there is development in this space from a policy perspective, moving from the RESS and recognising some of the barriers. It remains to be seen whether the new SRESS process will address that. From a community...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I encourage the Minister to look at some innovative models across Europe that have sought to take a different approach to the delivery of the same outcome. The outcome should be the literal ownership and a sense of ownership of the energy transition in order to allow people to share in the opportunity and the benefits offered by the transition to renewable energy. There are so many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on community-led projects that were successful in SRESS 1 and SRESS 2; the number of these projects that remain in the process; if he is aware of concerns that considerable barriers remain for community groups in the recently launched phase 2 of the SRESS; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: While there is some confusion on the terminology here, the Minister will understand the question. I am asking the Minister to provide an update on the community-led projects that were successful in auction 1 and auction 2; the number of these projects that remain in the process; if he is aware of concerns that considerable barriers remain for community groups in the recently launched phase...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the development of offshore wind; the status of the guidelines for the development of offshore wind; when the second offshore wind auction will take place; the progress of phase 1 projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27731/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister for an update on the development of offshore wind, the status of the guidelines for the development of offshore wind, when the second offshore wind auction will take place and the progress of phase 1 projects to date.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: What is the timeline for the south coast DMAP to be approved? I hope it is imminent. There is a concern we are not moving quickly enough. I acknowledge it is a considerable body of work to prepare DMAPs and that the south coast one is the first one. However, there is a concern we are not moving quickly enough on the west coast and elsewhere. Is consideration being given to that? Is the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: An issue that comes up consistently is ports infrastructure. Deputy Kenny and others have raised this consistently. It is almost a matter of chicken and egg. The ports need a commitment from developers before they can secure funding; the developers cannot commit when they do not know the infrastructure will be in place. The clock is ticking on these projects, particularly the phase 1...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department has undertaken as part of the energy poverty steering group; how many times the group has met; what actions have stemmed from these engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25438/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is the first time since the Minister, Deputy Ryan, announced that he will be stepping down as leader of the Green Party and will not be contesting the next general election that I have had an opportunity in the Chamber to wish him well. We have had lots of engagement both here and in the committee and it has always been constructive and policy-focused. I thank him for that and wish him...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: One of the issues of contention for some time in this area is definitions. A clear definition gives us the opportunity to measure. There are different definitions. Does the Minister have an update on the work towards agreeing a definition on energy poverty? Will the Government adopt the EU definition, for example, or is the Minister considering a focus on outcome and experience of going...