Results 1,021-1,040 of 25,681 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There were issues on certain routes in the past few weeks and I publicly stated they were not acceptable. I use this opportunity to restate to bus operators that paying customers - all customers indeed because many do not have to pay now due to the expansion of free travel - expect a reliable services. In many instances, that is exactly what they get. We will continue the investment in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy mentioned a number of things. On active travel, earlier this year he will have seen the NTA announcements, with very significant funding. Tomorrow, I will announce additional funding for greenways, improving the permeability between towns and villages. This is a successful programme and we want to expand it, and that is embraced by communities too. In respect of EVs, I am...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of that. I am also aware the Deputy's party has opposed every action we have taken in respect of climate, whether through our climate budgets or the climate action plan. That is a policy position it has, but I think we all understand the need for us to reduce emissions to improve how people travel. The Deputy's question relates specifically to electric vehicles and making them...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As I was saying, the regional and local EV network plan is very important. Departmental officials have been engaging actively with local authorities to develop their own regional charging plans. We are now looking at ranges averaging 400 km, which will cover most daily driving. Most EV charging happens at home. Nevertheless, I agree that we need to improve the EV charging infrastructure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have just told the Deputy what we are doing, and I did not say that what has happened up to now is unacceptable. I said we need to do more. Anyone will understand that when you are bringing in new infrastructure such as this, you are not going to do it in a year. That is obvious. You have a plan but you also have to know how to pay for it, and I have highlighted the contradiction in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I will leave that as it is. People will make up their own minds about it. Let us look at the facts. In 2020, the number of available charging points was about 1,700. It was 2,400 as of January 2024, and that will increase further this year, although I do not yet have those numbers. I am very serious about improving the infrastructure throughout the country. We will do that and we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Network (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá am breise ag an Teachta anocht. There is no kite flying on this. This is real money for roads across the country. We announced them and people will see the network of roads. As part of this investment in 2025, just under €48 million is being invested in developing and upgrading this infrastructure through vital strategic projects. The Deputy will be familiar with some of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Network (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: All of us want to see further improvements in the road network and in particular when we look at regional and local roads. I do not think anyone can dispute the investment for 2025 is very significant. Will it do every regional and local road across the country? Of course it will not. You must have a works programme as well and the capacity to deliver those programmes. That is what I and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for this important question on transport sectoral emissions. My Department's national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI, sets out modal and intervention hierarchies to achieve transport objectives. One of the four priorities is decarbonisation and as such, the sponsoring agency of any road project must consider any potential positive or negative impacts...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a balance to be struck here. I am glad the Deputy mentioned the CCAC and IFAC contribution today which I very much welcome. It does show the challenge in a growing economy. Thankfully we have full employment. Deputy Pa Daly already mentioned his view that there are infrastructural deficits and there are as well. We need to build more roads and we need more investment in rail....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Network (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht a phoist nua. Congratulations on your new post, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Deputy for his question as I know that this is a matter of interest to him and to many Deputies within the House. I certainly know that by the number of queries that I have received over the past week or so. The improvement and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government recognises the important role taxis and hackneys play in our overall public transport system and that is why the Programme for Government contains explicit commitments to support those who use SPSV services and also those employed in the SPSV sector. A key pillar of the SPSV sector is the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 which sets out a clear regulatory framework with the National...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware a number of important projects are underway to enhance Dublin's heavy and light rail networks. There has recently been good progress in relation to the DART+ Programme, which is a flagship plan to double rail passenger capacity for Dublin city centre to 52,000 each way and triple the overhead electrification to approximately 150km. Last year, conditional...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Park-and-Ride Facilities (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority or NTA leads the development and rollout of strategic park and ride sites nationwide. The NTA established the Park and Ride Development Office in 2020. Its purpose is to enable delivery of park and ride sites by the NTA in collaboration with Local Authorities and transport operators. In 2021, the Office published a Park and Ride...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 113, 129 and 156 together. I am acutely aware of the service issues and the issues with the accuracy of the real time information currently being experienced across parts of the public transport network and the negative impact that it is having on the travelling public. I fully recognise the importance of ensuring public transport services are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects. The Programme for Government committed around €360 million per annum to walking and cycling across the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the new Programme for Government - "Securing Ireland’s Future", this Government is strongly committed to enhancing transportation networks and infrastructure development. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the state...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question which I know is of great interest to him and the local community. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 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 (4 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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of carriages on the Wicklow to Connolly rail line is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to...