Results 1-20 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Sustainable Development Goals (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. The Programme for Government commits to accelerating Ireland’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and to adopting a coordinated approach to drive impactful action both at home and abroad. A whole-of-Government approach is being taken to deliver the SDGs in Ireland. My Department has overall...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Programme supports the low carbon energy transition by developing skills and capacity, at a community level, in determining how to use less energy; adopting lower carbon options for transport and heating; shifting energy use to off-peak times; or investing in smart...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. According to figures from SEAI's interim 2024 national energy balance report, 86% of electricity consumed in Ireland was produced indigenously in 2024 with imports accounting for 100% of its oil, 79.5% of its gas, and 14.0% of its electricity through interconnectors. In 2024, the majority of electricity generation was from natural gas...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regional Assemblies (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the briefing note provided by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. Delivering electricity infrastructure is a key priority for this Government and we are seeking to accelerate that delivery through a number of initiatives, including the Future Grid Working Group which was established under the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce. This Group is chaired by officials...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The ‘Guidelines for Managing Openings in Public Roads’, published by the Department of Transport in April 2017, sets out a summary of the legal framework relating to powers of road authorities, various statutory bodies and private individuals in opening or forming openings in public roads in Ireland. The document prescribes standards in respect of the work of forming openings,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Anti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network. Bus Éireann has invested in extensive CCTV coverage throughout its fleet for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources. On 14th February 2025 I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (26 Jun 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: Road Projects (26 Jun 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: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. The Government’s aim is to create an optimum environment to keep up with demand for EV charging and make it...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 Jun 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 Licences (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the collection and publication of statistics regarding SPSV licence numbers, 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (26 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. The Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Grant Scheme supports the uptake of EVs in the SPSVs sector (taxis, hackneys, and limousines). Due to the record number of applications, the eSPSV25 Grant Scheme was fully subscribed and temporarily paused in order to review and process the eligible applications received. The grant Scheme...

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...