Results 1,341-1,360 of 26,550 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 281 and 282 together. A European regulatory framework (Regulations (EU) 2021/664, 2021/665, and 2021/666) allows for the safe development of the drone services market, including drone delivery, and the integration of drones into our airspace. The European U-space Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/664) emerged to support commercial operations with...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to increasing TFI Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities. Under Budget 2025, the Department of Transport secured €658.442 million of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to increasing TFI Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities. Under Budget 2025, the Department of Transport secured €658.442 million of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The “Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways” was published by the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport in July 2018. It contained a commitment to develop a code of practice. The Code of Best Practice was published in December 2021 following its development and finalisation by a working-group made up of a range of representatives from the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In the main, Capital projects & investments are delivered by the relevant agencies under the remit of my Department. I have referred this question to the agencies under my remit for further reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within ten working days please contact my private office. In relation to departmental projects exceeding 500k, please see table below: ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (8 Apr 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: Road Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources. On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From 2023 there has been a marked increase in exemptions granted to Irish-registered aircraft operating outside of Ireland. This increase is linked to the Scandinavian operations of the SAS Group, particularly SAS Connect, an Irish licenced airline. This subsidiary of the SAS Group operates a fleet of 30 aircraft, with bases in Copenhagen, London Heathrow, and Stockholm. The expansion of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the development of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The Transport Strategy for the Greater...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electricity Grid (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. The expansion and upgrade of the public EV charging network is an effective way to help the transition to a zero and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (8 Apr 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: Climate Action Plan (8 Apr 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: Public Transport (8 Apr 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. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may know, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) in 2020, which was developed in consultation with Cork City and Cork County Councils and with input from other key stakeholders, including Iarnród Éireann. As part of this process, the route from Midleton to Youghal was earmarked for development as a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Below are the current vacancies in the department. The roles are filled from a number of streams such as Publicjobs, internal competitions and internal/external mobility. Grade Number of vacancies Expected Timeframe Higher Executive Officer 5 End of May Administrative Officer 8 End of June ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. In November 2024, the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicles scheme was expanded to include purchase grants for recharging...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Investment in Greenway and National Roads Active Travel...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Policy (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the promotion of road safety awareness, including advertising and the dissemination of road safety information. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) continues to work directly with Local Authorities on the delivery of EV charging infrastructure. Home charging is and will remain the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it is convenient, cheaper for the consumer and assists in the overall management of the national grid by reducing the impact of reliance on higher powered and...