Results 1-20 of 28,553 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I thank you and your colleagues for the opportunity to come before the Seanad. I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill before the House today will provide the legal mechanism for the payment of €1.5 billion of equity investment in the ESB as committed to by the...

Seanad: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank all Senators for their contributions. There are general points and a large degree of commonality within specific points. First, I thank Senators for their support and understand about the urgent nature of this legislation to be passed. Senator Clifford-Lee said that this investment will enable the development of critical infrastructure to underpin the NDP delivery across all our...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The procurement of battery storage facilities supplying the electricity grids is an operational matter for the entities involved and is not one in which the Minister has a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not directly fund any not-for-profit organisation, charity or service provider. With regards to agencies under my Departments aegis, the following are directly funded:- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)Loughs Agency (North South Body funded on a 50:50 basis between Ireland and Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports to small businesses which can assist these enterprises in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions. Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA), The SSEA was launched in July 2021 and provides support up to a maximum of €2,000 per...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Properties (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is not aware of any vacant or derelict buildings in the ownership of the Minister in County Mayo. The information sought in the Question in relation to each agency or public body under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each of the State Bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the vehicle suitability test, 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. Accordingly, I have referred your question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (13 Nov 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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public transport operators...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (13 Nov 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: Road Safety (13 Nov 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: Road Projects (13 Nov 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: Taxi Regulations (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the setting of fares, 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. Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (13 Nov 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 query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (13 Nov 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: Park-and-Ride Facilities (13 Nov 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) is leading the development and rollout of strategic park and ride sites nation-wide through the Park and Ride Development Office (PRDO). The Programme for Government commits to working with local authorities and relevant agencies to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (13 Nov 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 in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme. The NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, adopted in 2023, included a recommendation to extend the DART...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coastal Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects (ECRIPP). Noting the NTA's...