Results 881-900 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Enterprise rail service is the only cross-border rail service on the island of Ireland. It is a well-known symbol of North-South cooperation and provides an important public transport link operating between Dublin and Belfast. In October 2024, the Enterprise moved to a near hourly service supported by funding provided by the Shared Island Fund. The Enterprise now operates 15 services...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset it is important to note that as the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of National and Regional Greenways. The Carlingford Lough Greenway, initiated in 2017, committed to delivering 10km of cross-border greenway infrastructure from Newry to Carlingford. The project was supported through EU funding (c. €7m) via the INTERREG...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Infrastructure Scheme is a €15 million all-island initiative supporting the installation of publicly accessible EV chargers in sports clubs. The aim of the scheme is to install a network of publicly accessible EV chargers in communities throughout the country, through their local sports clubs. The scheme will see 50kW and 100kW fast chargers...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) grant, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of integrated, accessible public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Irish Rail, who has responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (8 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides a multi-annual investment programme to protect our national railway system by funding maintenance and safety projects needed to maintain safety and service levels in railway operations, including strategic spare parts used to carry out these works on the rail network. As the operation,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not I, as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 233 together. Government has approved equity support of up to €1.5bn for ESB and up to €2bn for EirGrid to support their investment in critical energy infrastructure over the coming years. Government currently owns 100% of the shareholding in EirGrid and will continue to do so after the equity support is provided. Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Small and Medium Enterprises (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) is a highly successful scheme funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme has supported over 4,000 small businesses with a €2,000 voucher for a high-quality energy audits. The scheme’s eligibility criteria are published on the SEAI’s website. Businesses applying...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) approve price reviews on a five yearly basis, which set out the operating and investment programmes for the electricity network. The next price review, PR6, covers the period 2026-2030. ESB Networks and EirGrid have submitted their proposals to the CRU for expenditure for the five-year price review period. A significant increase in capital...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Supply Board (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Supply Board (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 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 carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. As Minister, I have no function in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Radon Gas Levels (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and is estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. In response to the public health risks posed by radon gas, the Government established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS). Implementation of the Strategy is overseen by an interdepartmental and agency NRCS Coordination Group...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Services (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The total spend by my Department on external legal services in each of the past three years and the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought are detailed in the following tables. Company/Organisation Name Description Total € Arthur Cox Solicitor Legal Advice - Emergency Generation Advices 93,157 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised that the my Department has spent some €1,107,748 in respect of legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements over the past three years. There are 12 State bodies under the aegis of my Department. The information sought in the Question is an operational matter for each of the State bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Killarney Innovation Centre (KTI) is under the remit of Kerry County Council. The role of building regulations in the deployment of green technologies, including energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials, are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. My Department can provide support to local authorities seeking to retrofit...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides support to businesses and public bodies seeking to retrofit buildings to improve energy efficiency through a number of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes including:the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme which provides substantial support to the SME sector to address energy costs and reduce emissions in their buildings;for larger energy users in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 249 together. I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question Dáil Ref: 10 of 18 June 2025. The position remains unchanged from that set out therein. As regards Q2 2025, figures will not be available until Q3.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 250 together. The information requested which has been provided by the SEAI is set out in the following table. Please note that the retrofit figures represent grants provided through SEAI, while SPV on new homes are typically installed to meet Part L Building Regulation requirements. Year New Builds Retrofitted (SEAI...