Results 861-880 of 6,797 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the target of 500,000 homes to BER B2 or higher by 2030; the proportion of retrofits that achieved a BER B2 or higher that were solar installations only, i.e., no other works; the proportion of homes that were retrofitted with solar PV as part of the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to report on the conclusion of the private wires consultation; when the Government will bring forward a private wires policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27558/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (27 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the revenue that was raised via the cap on market revenues; how this compares to the original projected revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27698/24]

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I want to revisit that issue of the connectivity blackspots and those hard-to-connect areas. I know there was a suggestion that we will end up - and to a large degree, it is related to the success of the roll-out of the national broadband plan, which we hope continues apace - having better services available in more rural parts and uptake will...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. On the connections, it is always a kind of headline figure and people are generally surprised by it. I do not have it here but he had it in his opening statement, that is, the significant number of properties passed, in the tens of thousands, and the number connected. What we hear - and I think it is understandable and logical - is that people are in contracts, and...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I take the point, and it is the reason I asked the question because I think there are explanations why people do not connect. I take the Minister's point with regard to the industry and that it is a greater uptake than it intended. Is it the case that we expect it to be towards 100,000? Are we then subsidising NBI for the shortfall or does that come into it at all? Say, for example, the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. I thank the Minister. I have a final question with regard to the public warning system, which is subhead D7. What is the progress on that and the timeline? I think it is something people will have an interest in and it will be important. I see the briefing note has something of an update. I wonder is there more detail on when we might expect this scheme to be up and running,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: December 2025.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the national student accommodation strategy; when an update will be published; the measures he is taking to ensure students from Meath who are unable to stay in the family home are able to find suitable accommodation at the beginning of the new academic year; the measures he is taking to ensure there is adequate supply of suitable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: This is a significant issue in my county, Meath, particularly for people travelling from north Meath into Dublin, for example. Some people are lucky enough to be able to live at home but they are denied the independence of living away from home during their college years. The issue above all else, though there are others, such as transport connections, is the issue of affordability. What...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Student Accommodation (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: It is just a statement of fact that there is nowhere near the necessary accommodation to meet demand. The accommodation that is available is not in any way affordable to people. The Minister talked about his experience of being in digs in the city of Cork. In my college experience in the city of Dublin 25 years ago, it was digs, private rented and shared accommodation, all on a maintenance...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Deputies for their contributions over the course of the debate. I am disappointed the Government has tabled a countermotion. I do not accept its rationale or argument. We have to look at the evidence, which is that large numbers of people are in arrears with their electricity bills, with 10% of domestic and commercial electricity customers and 25% of domestic and commercial gas...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that Ireland has some of the most expensive electricity prices in the European Union (EU), two-thirds higher than the average, with the typical Irish household paying nearly €700 more per year; regrets that: — the Government refused to apply a stronger, more effective windfall tax which tackled profits when they were at their...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. Under subhead A5, which relates to the carbon fund, there does not seem to be an allocation for 2024. Is that fund now being managed in a different way from how it was previously managed? Has it been subsumed into something else?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I also have a question on the just transition.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Deputy Bruton asked about the just transition fund. I am interested in the answer to his question on the just transition commission. I want to acknowledge that it is very significant increased funding for the fund. There is in the region of 106 different projects. I have a question regarding the oversight of managing them. There were specific objectives or areas of focus within those...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (25 Jun 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Specifically on B4, residential and community retrofit programmes, I have received replies to parliamentary questions on the costs associated with the average retrofit costs bringing units to a B2 rating. There appears to be a very significant difference within the one-stop-shop service. I do not know if the Minister has the figures in front him. The average cost in 2022 was around...