Results 141-160 of 25,421 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Kerry with €8,250,000 allocated in 2025. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Kerry with €8,250,000 allocated in 2025. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Kerry with €8,250,000 allocated in 2025. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Kerry with €8,250,000 allocated in 2025. In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees. As a commercial semi-state body, CIÉ are responsible for the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Exemptions (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides that where the owner of a vehicle wishes to declare a vehicle off the road, the declaration must be made in advance during the month of expiry of the vehicle’s current motor tax disc. The requirement to declare a vehicle off the road in the month of expiry of the current disc or current off road declaration is noted in the motor tax...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Policies (10 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: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s data collection processes are regularly reviewed to ensure high quality services to citizens, improvements are implemented when required. Similarly, the primary function of our databases is to store data for the safe and efficient operation of the services we provide. We ensure they are fit for these purposes. Recently my Department has designed and deployed a modern...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no projects currently underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Noting the relevance of the Deputy's question to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, I have referred this question to them for a direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please advise my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is not currently examining the future use of AI in relation to specific policy areas. A free version of Microsoft Copilot has been made available to all staff and is being assessed under strict controls. Further AI use cases may be explored in the year ahead but these projects will focus on analytics type data work rather than on policy areas directly.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department recognises the importance of building future readiness and has offered AI training to staff through short courses provided by the Institute of Public Administration ("AI Essentials" and "AI Masterclass"). The "AI Essentials" course provides an understanding of the fundamentals of AI as well as its potential and implications. It aligns with the public service transformation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. My Department administers a diverse and complex brief, including the oversight of agencies such as the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This includes policy development and funding of public transport, roads, aviation, maritime transport as well as promoting sustainable mobility. My Department has a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not conducted general surveys that would estimate the amount of time taken up with administrative tasks, where that time could be used more efficiently. One of the key Strategic goals, Organisational Excellence and Innovation, in the Department’s current Statement of Strategy, outlines the Department's commitment to innovation and improving its systems. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (10 Apr 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 the electrification of public transport. The Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the public transport sector in line with the Climate Action Plan. No new diesel-only buses have been purchased for urban public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Measures to make the planning system more efficient for delivery of infrastructure are primarily a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation. From a transport policy perspective, more integrated land use and transport planning, including transport orientated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) was held in 2023. The North Irish Sea Array (NISA) project was one of four projects that were successful in the auction and were awarded a Contract for Difference (CFD) under the Scheme. I understand that the NISA project holds a grid connection offer for its planned 500 MW capacity and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2024 commits to achieving at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. The Government's Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery of this objective. Our first offshore wind auction (ORESS 1) took place in 2023 and awarded supports to four projects. Two further projects that were unsuccessful in the ORESS 1 auction are pursuing a route to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to achieve our ambitious Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) goals, it is likely that a number of different technologies will need to play a role, including floating offshore wind. Given the relatively short timeframe involved in achieving our 2030 target, the focus of ORESS auctions so far has been on fixed-bottom offshore wind, as this technology is much more commercially advanced...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Noise Pollution (9 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC sets out certain requirements for the assessment and management of environmental noise from transport sources, including the making of strategic noise maps and action plans. It is important to note, however, that the Directive does not set binding limit values nor does it prescribe the measures to be included in the action plans, leaving...