Results 161-180 of 28,085 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Park-and-Ride Facilities (1 Oct 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. The Park and Ride Development Office has developed a Park and Ride Strategy for Galway. The Park and Ride...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (1 Oct 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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (1 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is fully committed to accelerating the transition to cleaner transport; creating the conditions necessary for widespread EV adoption; and phasing out older, high-emission vehicles. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. There is a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Oct 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 Dublin Bus. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Oct 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: Bus Services (1 Oct 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 Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the companies for direct reply. Please advise my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (1 Oct 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 will be aware, the development of a Luas line to serve Lucan is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (1 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 to 35, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (1 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My department has been working with Cavan and Louth County Councils in relation to funding projects associated with the proposed upgraded East West Link Road. As the Deputy is aware the proposed scheme would run on regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and national routes from Cavan to Sligo. Going back some time there was a proposal for a substantial upgrade of the regional road part of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I think there are ways of doing that and ways perhaps of running recruitment or looking at potential routes to recruitment alongside the legislation. We have to get the operational structures set in place. Consolidation of the legal aspects will be complex but the operational ones should not be. This is why I have already had discussions with the NTA and An Garda Síochána and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely thank the Deputy for his support for this force. If we can work together in a collegiate way across the House, we will be able to advance the legislation quicker. We will need a fair wind to be able to have it all passed by next year and have recruitment for the force in place. It will have to be rolled out on a phased basis. It is my earnest desire to have the force in place...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aviation Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We are working with the sector, communities and the public. We had a lot of engagement on-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aviation Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Hold on a second. Deputy O'Gorman knows there are regulations in place. They are EU regulations. The IAA is charged with-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aviation Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There are regulations. The Deputy has stated on the record of the House that there are no regulations. That is not true. It is incorrect. That might work at a public meeting he is at or hosting with Deputy Coppinger to try to drum up further discontent. Undoubtedly, there are people impacted by it and that is why we need to ensure that there are proper designated zones and proper...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. She will be aware that such a route is planned to be introduced as part of BusConnects, which is the largest-ever investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, funded by the Government on behalf of our citizens and managed by the NTA. Since its commencement in 2021, BusConnects Dublin has seen over 100 new double-decker electric buses enter into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I look forward to working with the Deputy in the coming weeks and months on our further plans to create more employment in the airport. As the Deputy knows, it is important that the people in my area and hers have good paying jobs to support their families and quality of life. There is no padded-out answer here. I am putting things in context because there is a lot happening with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. I will take on board the suggestion she made on the W4 route to the airport in the interim. I have given her the best answer I can in regard to the N8 route. There are lots of good things happening all across Dublin in regard to public transport and we want to build on the progress that has been made over the past five years, no less so in Dublin 15. I will not again...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his support for this initiative. It is important we ensure there is safety on our public transport network right across the country. I want to assure him that we are actively progressing the legislative proposals required to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to establish that transport security force. I have worked very closely with the NTA. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A Massey Ferguson.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aviation Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Gorman. He has indeed raised this matter here before. I launched the National Policy Framework on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, on 20 August 2025, making Ireland one of the first European Union member states to publish a dedicated policy in relation to drones. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning for, and the development of, the UAS...