Results 1-20 of 25,443 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for her contribution. In response to Deputy Crowe, I want to see all our airports grow. I would like to see more flights out of Shannon, Cork and Ireland West. We see growth in all those airports as well as further projected growth this year in Cork, Shannon, Ireland West and Kerry and small growth in Donegal. For the information of the House, I am working...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and will let him take a breath.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It would have. He could have used the bike. I have answered the Deputy's colleagues earlier. We are updating the national aviation policy and we will be bringing forward a new one, on which I will need all inputs. The Deputy and his colleagues have regularly championed Shannon Airport. Shannon is fine Airport. I raise the growth in the airport since 2019. In 2019, 1.72 million...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 51, 90 and 265 together. A lot of Deputies have raised this matter. There are questions here from Deputies McGettigan, Cathal Crowe, Quinlivan and Pa Daly. It speaks to the importance, which all of us understand, of our aviation sector. Ireland has done extremely well from a connectivity perspective. For example, Dublin Airport is the fifth best...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has direct responsibility for the all-island rail review. I expect that matters such as the double-tracking the Deputy has mentioned will be considered as part of that. On timetables, punctuality and reliability, the management of timetables is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. Where specific matters are raised in questions here, we note them and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport. The NTA has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure including ticketing and technology projects. The next generation ticketing project is very significant and will provide a transformative upgrade to the ticketing system for public transport passengers in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am also very anxious to see this. The Deputy is right; the Leap card is great. That is fine but, if you go to London or other parts of Britain, you can tap on or off with a debit card or credit card, which works fantastically well. When we bring in our system, it will be ahead of those in Britain and most of Europe because it will also involve account-based ticketing. I have asked for a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I know the Deputy will be raising this issue regularly and he is right to do so because it will make a very significant difference. We will certainly be putting as much positive pressure as possible on to ensure delivery. I will be watching the timeline very closely and, as it becomes firmer, I will keep the Deputy informed. It will not be necessary for someone who is visiting to have an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. There is no doubt that the very strong passenger growth in recent years poses some challenges at certain times for the public transport network, including the InterCity rail network. Like the Deputy, I am eager to see improved rail services rolled out across the network. We know that when people are offered reliable and frequent services, they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The new InterCity railcars are being tested right now. We have received them. As the Deputy correctly said, Iarnród Éireann mentioned to him that once they come into use in 2026 additional railcars will then be provided to other routes. Two carriages on a train at peak times is, I would suggest, insufficient. I am sure the Deputy has raised that specific issue about that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I cannot give Deputy O'Hara a timeline, and I am not at all being evasive because we have commenced the preparatory work for the review. There will also be an updating and there is a clear commitment in the programme for Government on updating the regional airports programme. There will be a new programme for 2026 to 2030. This means we would need most of the work concluded this year or by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Public transport connectivity and services to our airports are obviously critical. They are served relatively well. This can always be improved. I would expect it to be part of the input into our national aviation policy. While the existing policy from 2015 needs to be updated, it is not redundant at all. If anything, if we look at the growth in numbers in our airports throughout the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy said, this has already been raised by Deputy Ahern. I am happy to say, first, that we are committed to reviewing and updating the national aviation policy, which will bring about a new policy. That will involve stakeholder consultation. Effectively, we will publish a draft in the coming months. The draft will go out to public consultation and consultation in the House, and I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Looking at where we came from, there was 7% year-on-year growth between 2023 and 2024 in our regional airports. That growth is happening. Shannon is profitable. I do not think anybody is necessarily looking for subsidies or additional funding – capital funding, maybe - to improve facilities. I want to see more routes flying out of Shannon and Cork and that is happening. There has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The review is not concluded yet. I have not received it. He is right to highlight the importance of the passenger experience. When we think of our public transport system, passengers and customers have to be central to it. Public transport is not just about moving from A to B – it is a vital service that connects individuals to work, education, healthcare and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that. People need to be certain and sure they can rely on their public transport system. In the main, they are and our public transport operators operate very well. We saw record passenger numbers on public transport last year. People are responding because fares are affordable but there are issues from time to time, particularly in relation to our bus fleet and buses not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: On fares, my focus is on investing in our fleet and infrastructure. That will be Government's focus. This five years to the end of the decade can see a step change in our infrastructure. We have seen some significant projects in Ceannt Station, Galway, and Kent Station, Cork. In Waterford, there has been significant investment in a new bus depot and in the train station. We are looking...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Network (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of Listry Bridge and other specific issues in the Deputy's constituency, we will take a note as he raises them. I assure him that the figures I have given are real. There are significant increases in funding for new roads and for maintenance and renewal. I agree with him that speedy delivery is key. The funding provided for the N86 from Tralee to An Daingean is not just for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Network (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The LIS falls under the remit of the Minister for Rural and Community Development. It does not fall within my Department. I have given the funding figures and have used Kerry as a good example. We are looking at a 10.68% increase in funding for roads this year. There is a total allocation of €33.36 million for maintenance and improvement, which is on top of the funding for new...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (8 May 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the important question. A number of Deputies have asked about national aviation policy. We are dealing with the 2015 national aviation policy, NAP. It established a policy framework for the development of the aviation sector in Ireland, which is critical. It is designed to create an environment that encourages the sector to enhance Ireland's connectivity, to foster...