Results 101-120 of 25,406 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Emergency exercises are carried out to stress-test the systems and procedures in place to ensure that the Government, State agencies and wider stakeholders are prepared to effectively manage a range of potential emergency scenarios. In accordance with risk requirements and annual winter preparedness initiatives across the energy sector, a range of multi-stakeholder simulation exercises...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air and Water Pollution (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 90 and 91 together. The national air quality monitoring network is operated, maintained and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP), which is funded by my Department. A significant upgrade to the AAMP network was undertaken in recent years, also funded by my Department. As...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Hydrogen Strategy was published in July 2023 and is the first major policy statement on renewable hydrogen and marks an important first step in developing an indigenous hydrogen industry in Ireland. Hydrogen is a cross-cutting technology which can play a role across a variety of end uses such as transport, power and heating. It also offers industrial opportunities and export...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 15 State bodies under the aegis of my Department. The information sought in the Question 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 bodies directly in relation to this matter. Contact details for each body are set out in the attached document. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. In 2024, the remit of the Department included oversight of climate action, energy security and sustainability, restoring and protecting our natural environment, circular economy, digital connectivity, and cyber security. As a result, my Department manages a high volume of correspondence. I am advised that my office and the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. In 2024, the remit of the Department included oversight of climate action, energy security and sustainability, restoring and protecting our natural environment, circular economy, digital connectivity, and cyber security. As such, thousands of emails are received by the Minister's Office mailbox and the Customer Service Inbox from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that my Department has not undertaken any surveys to estimate the amount of time taken up with administrative tasks as outlined by the Deputy. Notwithstanding this, my Department is constantly working to improve processes and procedures to increase efficiency and performance across its operational areas. One of the Key Strategic Actions in my Departments Statement of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Programmes (10 Apr 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 of 54MtCO2eq. and 37MtCO2eq. for carbon budget periods 1 and 2 respectively, which were agreed by Government in August 2022. The development of the Climate Action Plan 2023 took note of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Policies (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the National Driver Testing Service. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that current waiting times are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputy that measures have been taken to address the issue. To support the RSA in increasing testing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (10 Apr 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 development and delivery of individual projects. The Programme for Government committed around €360 million per annum to walking and cycling across the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is firmly committed to improving public transport across the country and that commitment is demonstrated through the significant investment that has been made in both services and infrastructure in recent years. As the Deputy will be aware, the key objectives for Local Link include continuing to address rural social exclusion and the integration of Local Link with other...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Programmes (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Consultants were appointed by the Department of Transport in Q4 2023 to conduct a review of the existing administrative, operational, legislative, and funding structures of rural public transport service provision via the Rural Transport Programme, to evaluate its current...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Consultants were appointed by the Department of Transport in Q4 2023 to conduct a review of the existing administrative, operational, legislative, and funding structures of rural public transport service provision via the Rural Transport Programme, to evaluate its current...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (10 Apr 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. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes the recruitment of driver testers. I have therefore referred the Deputy’s question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply regarding the current recruitment campaign and I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy, overall funding in relation to public transport, and corporate governance of transport agencies including the National Transport Authority (NTA). I am not involved in the day-to-day operations including decisions in relation to staffing. In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (10 Apr 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: Transport Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides that where the owner of a vehicle wishes to declare a vehicle off the road, the declaration must be made in advance, during the month of expiry of the vehicle’s current motor tax disc. This can be done online on the motor tax website or at any Motor Tax Office. Where the owner fails to make such a declaration, for whatever reason,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (10 Apr 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. Issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees. Under the Transport Act 1950, CIÉ have initiated the statutory process by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply and I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. Pending this more detailed response, I acknowledge that current waiting...