Results 21-40 of 28,553 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (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 statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including light rail. As the Deputy may be aware, the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 was published...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The recently concluded review of the National Development Plan has confirmed the Department of Transport’s annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030. The Department is in the process of reviewing key programmes and projects in the transport sector in the context of that newly confirmed capital funding envelope, including plans for investment in public transport projects, and a...

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: Airport Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. Following engagement with the daa on the matter of flightpaths at Dublin Airport , I have been advised that given the ongoing regulatory and planning processes in track regarding Dublin Airport, including matters under Judicial Review, it is not daa’s intention to embark on a flightpath review at this time. Under EU legislation, the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The sites of the 90 new recharging hubs to service the expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet across Ireland's national road network were announced 10th October 2025. These new sites will deliver 192 new fast recharging points, with an average capacity of typically 250kW, at 90 locations along the national primary and secondary road network. This is part of a wider plan to build a reliable...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority. On 14th...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: For the transport sector, we are required to pursue a decarbonisation pathway to achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 in a manner that is consistent with sectoral emission ceilings that were agreed by Government in August 2022. Despite continued economic and population growth, transport emissions have started to decline year-on-year. The transport chapter of the annually...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. While over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home, there is a vital need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible. The National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the allocation of funding at local authority level as well as the oversight of development and delivery of individual projects. In general, the main focus of active...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. The Department of Transport also emphasises to local authorities the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ensuring fairness to all and supporting a just transition are key principles underpinning the National Retrofit Plan. The Government is committed to driving increased retrofitting and home energy upgrades, as part of the plan and as set out in the Programme for Government. This includes improving the provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit, enhancing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to driving increased retrofitting and home energy upgrades, as part of the National Retrofit Plan and as set out in the Programme for Government. This includes the continued delivery of the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including delivering more B2 home energy upgrades; revising and improving the provision of grants and financing models for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Communications (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister’s Diary inbox is operational and is regularly monitored by staff in my Department’s private office during normal working hours. All incoming emails are acknowledged and processed for consideration by the Ministerial team. Requests for meetings for matters regarding my climate, energy and environment portfolios can be directed towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department, through Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), currently has a range of initiatives to support energy efficiency in schools, as well as supporting raising awareness of energy conservation and sustainability among students. The Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme is a capital retrofit programme co-funded between SEAI and the Department of Education and Youth....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Functions (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the Public Services Management Act 1997, the Strategic Implementation Team in my Department coordinated the development of DCEE's current Statement of Strategy, Le Chéile 28 which outlines the Department’s vision, mission and key strategic goals over the next 3 years to ensure the delivery of our objectives and the commitments in the Programme for Government. Le...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no funding or grants available from my Department for the facility referenced in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with the Climate Action Plan (action EL/24/16), the "Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland" was published by my Department in July 2024. Chapter 4 of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid-connected electricity storage systems, including battery electricity storage systems here in Ireland. The chapter...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The capital allocations for my Department in 2025 and 2026 are set out in the table below. Programme* 2025 Capital Allocation €000 2026 Capital Allocation €000 A - Climate Action and Environment Leadership 82,030 145,634 B - Energy Transformation 631,687 647,527 C -...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in relation to the provision of wastewater treatment systems or the inadequacy of existing wastewater treatment system. This falls under the remit of Uisce Éireann which is a body under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It should be noted, however, that, since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. These schemes include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation), as well as solar PV and heat pump installation. It is important...