Results 1,481-1,500 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that the number of WTE legal advisors employed by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 is as set out in the tables below. 2023 Grade WTE Principal Solicitor 1.00 Advisory Counsel 4.00 Total 5.00 2024 Grade WTE Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 166 together. A range of SEAI supports are in place to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions. These include grant supports for attic and cavity wall insulation. In recent years, demand across the SEAI residential...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Third Level Education (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the outcome of the independent “National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers”, directed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the SEAI announced in 2023 that the eligible research stipend budget contribution for SEAI-funded PhD students was increasing from €18,500 to €25,000 per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 I, as Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (MPENDR), approve any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artificial Intelligence (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the security of artificial intelligence (AI), and are following their recommendations. All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No AI tools, licenses, subscriptions nor consultancy have been procured. Therefore, no Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (18 Feb 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 myself 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 Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government has committed to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this ambitious target, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. The Biomethane Strategy sets out a pathway to achieving Ireland’s biomethane production target; addresses the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Service outages on Electronic Communications Networks (ECN) and Services (ECS) are primarily caused by mechanical damage (due mainly to falling trees caused by the storm force winds) and interruption to the electricity power supply. Operators of Electronic Communications Networks and Services are obliged to report incidents to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The telecommunications network is provided by private service providers, operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) as independent Regulator. The estimated effect of Storm Éowyn on the national telecoms userbase was the largest in ComReg’s recording history. At its peak, over the weekend of the 25 and 26 of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My department is responsible for the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme, essentially aimed at ensuring Coast Guard stations along the coast are fit for purpose. The programme is managed through the Office of Public Works (OPW) from planning and design to build and ongoing maintenance, with legal assistance as necessary from the Chief State Solicitor's Office. The programme is funded...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Feb 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: Taxi Regulations (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits for SPSVs, 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. In line with the Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198 and 199 together. In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Feb 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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including light rail. Implementation of the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 has been divided into...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Transport Authority (NTA) received notification of planning approval by An Bord Pleanála in October 2024 for the Lucan to City Centre Scheme. The Lucan to City Scheme is part of the BusConnects Dublin programme, a key element of the Government's policy to improve public transport. The Core Bus Corridor is routed via the N4 (passing the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre) as far...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no record of having received funding support from the United States of America International Development for projects during the indicated time period. I have referred the deputies question to the agencies under my remit for direct reply, please contact my private office if you have not received a response within 10 business days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Noise Pollution (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The (SI 190 of 1963) require vehicles to be fitted with a silencer or other device for reducing exhaust noise to a reasonable level and they prohibit use of a vehicle that causes excessive noise in a public place. Under Section 29 of the Regulations, combustion engine vehicles must be fitted with an exhaust silencer or other device to reduce exhaust noise. Section 34(2)(e) states that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authorities (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast...