Results 1,501-1,520 of 25,681 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. All office and other accommodation occupied by the Department of Transport is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which is responsible for the procurement of office and other accommodation required for Government Departments. My Department currently owns one vacant property, the Dun Laoghaire rocket house, which is...

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to catering services onboard Intercity rail services is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Within this policy framework, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not engaged any consultancy firms to provide advice in respect of the use of AI. Some guidance has been received from Microsoft in relation to their Copilot platform as part of regular account management meetings and at no additional cost to the Department. A free version Copilot is being assessed by staff in the Department under strict controls. A project is commencing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (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 is responsible for the licensing of public bus passenger...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to delivering for all people and all regions across our shared island. In relation to air connectivity between Derry and Dublin, this Government is committed to engaging with all relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry City airports as reflected in our Programme for Government. I would...

Road Safety: Statements (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sharing time with the Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer. I welcome the opportunity to address the House this afternoon to update it on road safety measures. As we all know, travel is an essential component of economic and social life. It needs to be available, accessible, sustainable and, above all, safe. This Government is committed to reducing road deaths and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (13 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Registration Tax (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Motor Tax is based on both the construction and use of a vehicle. To be taxed as a goods vehicle, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted as a goods vehicle and used solely for the carrying of goods in the course of trade or business. Under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 385 of 1992), a licensing authority must be satisfied...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (13 Feb 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 planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters and neither I nor my department have the power to intervene in individual cases. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Department. Within the Climate Action Plan, fleet electrification is one of the biggest mitigation actions for domestic sectors and will provide the greatest share of transport emissions abatement to 2030. The Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Scheme (eSPSV) supports the uptake of electric vehicles in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme. The Preliminary Business Case for the whole DART+ programme was approved by Cabinet at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code in December 2021. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (13 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 securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 the operation of the National Car Testing (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. As Minister, I have no function in respect of operational or contractual matters. My officials have engaged with the RSA on various aspects of the NCT service, however, including quality control and monitoring. In 2024, over 1.7...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (13 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: Active Travel (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. The Government is committed to the provision of improved and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Active Travel (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure, including the provision of funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in support of public bike-sharing schemes in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. However, matters related to the day-to-day operations, management and expansion of these public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (13 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Collision data are compiled by An Garda Síochána in the first instance. In recent years, the onward sharing of this data with both the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and local authorities has been complicated by the General Data Protection Regulation and associated safeguards associated with personal data. However, following extensive efforts by stakeholders across the sector, an...