Results 1,641-1,660 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as an gcuireadh chun a bheith anseo os comhair an choiste iompair maidin inniu. Táim ag tnúth go mór leis an gcuid oibre atá le déanamh againn le chéile ar son ár ndaoine fud fad na tíre. I thank the Chairman and the committee for the invitation and I look forward to working with members of the committee...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We have received the first tranche. There was an order for 165 carriages over two deliveries. The first portion of that is being commissioned now and they are being tested in Inchicore. They will be tested shortly on the northern line. They have been received and that testing and commissioning are important. We had 41 carriages delivered last year for the new DART fleet and the...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: They are not actually in service yet. That is the reason.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We have the first tranche of them. The first part of the order has been received.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 180 ordered in total. We have 41 right now and they are being received in stages and will be brought on to the line.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, they are. I have just been informed that we also have 41 intercity rail carriages, which are already in service. The new carriages for the DART+ fleet are being commissioned. The first part of that order was received last year.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have been told that the projection is quarter 4 of 2026. Licensing arrangements need to be done not just within Ireland but also at a European rail level. Quite a bit of that work has to be done as well. There is also the commissioning and driver training.

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It will make a significant difference to that line and it will also make a significant difference to other lines. We will be able to move carriages currently on the northern line to other lines, thereby increasing capacity. These carriages are fully accessible for those with disabilities. We have made strides with that. Regarding waiting times or having to pre-order or pre-book a slot on...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have discussed the matter with Iarnród Éireann. We have some infamous lifts, particularly on the line into Dublin, that are regularly out of service. Some of that is due to vandalism and antisocial behaviour, which is problematic in some areas. Iarnród Éireann is acutely aware of that matter and doing everything it can to improve accessibility. This will help greatly...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Fares are not set by me. We intend to keep the 90-minute fare. We will also be rolling out free transport for five-year-olds to eight-year-olds on PSO routes. We also have the fairer fares - there was a 50% reduction in rail fares for commuters in Drogheda. The Deputy and others have raised with me the anomaly with Skerries and Balbriggan. I have relayed that point, particularly on...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: During transport questions last night, a number of Deputies asked that question. Next generation ticketing is on the way. The contract is in place. There is a €165 million investment by the Exchequer on this which will greatly improve our ticketing system across our entire public transport network. It will allow for new ways to pay for public transport. It will also introduce...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am absolutely sure because I asked those very questions and I compared it with our nearest neighbour, Britain, and how it would look to someone who was very used to going to Britain and tapping on and off. I am informed our system will be an advance of what you see in operation in London. The account based option will also be there for people. Right now, there are apps, such as the...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not what we want to see here. There are examples of where IT systems have not been delivered well and have not done what they were intended for. It is not the situation here. Obviously, I have met the NTA in my role but specifically on this, I intend to met the NTA and the system developer to talk in more detail about that and about timelines in particular. I am absolutely assured...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Gorman. He can be absolutely assured this Government is as committed as the previous one to continuing the real advancements that were made over the previous five years in the provision of active travel schemes. I am a bigger supporter of that. We have seen a lot of advancement in my own area of Fingal and we have seen the benefits of that such as the safer routes to...

Select Committee on Transport: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (25 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: What I want to see this year is that we spend our outturn. There will be some carryover from last year within the programme as well. My intention is to get additional capital that will go across our Vote. Those discussions are not concluded yet but the target for the publication of the revised NDP is the month of July. I am a firm believer in active travel. It works. People respond to...