Latest news with #DarraghO'Brien
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
People on public transport deserve to feel safe & that's Govt priority with bold new plans, says Darragh O'Brien
IRELAND has been beset by anti-social behaviour on public transport for a number of years. The 2 A dedicated Transport Security Force is being established Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The rise in incidents ranging from verbal abuse and intimidation to physical assaults has endangered passengers and staff, and also damaged trust in the In the run up to the general election, This force will operate under the National Transport Authority. Writing in the Irish Sun on Sunday today, Minister for Transport READ MORE IN OPINION MY priority for the next five years of this government is to drive forward a transformative programme of investment in sustainable and modern transport infrastructure to boost I want to continue to invest in reliable, accessible, and efficient transport links between our towns, cities, and rural areas. This includes expanding our bus and rail fleets, building new rail stations, and accelerating the electrification of public transport. We are progressing several major projects nationwide that will significantly improve Ireland's transport system. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. Most read in The Irish Sun In These aim to provide over 200km of enhanced bus and WORK PROGRESSING I am pleased to say that An Bord Pleanála has approved all 12 Core Bus Corridor applications in Dublin. My department aims to have the first of the Core Bus Corridors in construction this year. We have also received planning approval for DART+ West and full approval for DART+ South West and the new DART+ Fleet, currently undergoing testing, which will start rolling out on the Northern line from Dublin to/from In April 2025, I was pleased to open a new 'through' platform at Kent Station in Works are also continuing on the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme Phase 1 works and I look forward to these being complete in 2026. Luas Cork, the new light rail project for the city is also progressing. For public transport to function effectively and accommodate a growing number of A reliable and secure system not only protects passengers and staff but also builds public confidence, encouraging greater use of sustainable transport. One of my key priorities is addressing safety on public transport. While significant progress has been made in recent years through increased investment in safety measures, antisocial behaviour — or even the perception of it — remains a serious challenge. SAFE AND SECURE NETWORK Those who rely on or work within our public transport system must feel secure. That is why I have initiated work to establish a dedicated Transport Security Force, which was a key commitment in the Programme for Just this week, I met with the While the past few years have seen significant progress on investment in safety measures, antisocial behaviour remains a serious issue, and it is those who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents. Work in the Department for Transport is advancing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress the Transport Security Force commitment, in conjunction with the NTA. The decisions over the appropriate model for the Transport Security Force are in the preliminary stages of the deliberative process. The introduction of such a force will require the development of legislation too which can have a significant lead time, but I will keep the public updated as we progress through the various stages. Underpinning this commitment to delivering a safe and secure public transport network, the ongoing interim work on public transport safety will continue, as will the support and funding for operator measures, such as the recent extension of the Dublin Bus Security Pilot Scheme. EMERGENCY ALARMS All public transport operators are continuing to expend significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of antisocial behaviour. For example, all services are now fully fitted with CCTV cameras, various text alert systems and control centres have been introduced. Across the operating companies, security screens and safety cabins are provided where possible for driver safety. There are emergency alarms onboard all vehicles which can be activated by drivers to contact their central control centres. As Minister for Transport I am continuing to work closely with industry stakeholders to identify measures to improve passenger safety. We have established a public transport safety working group, with representatives from the public transport operators, the commercial bus sector, the NTA, unions, I will continue to engage with operators and unions and will continue to work with all stakeholders to provide safe, sustainable public transport.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
New app to be rolled out to gather Irish decision-makers in severe emergencies
The country's most senior officials will be enrolled into a new emergency alert system that will quickly gather decision-makers in the event of large-scale emergencies. The new app, which the Irish Mirror understands was discussed on Wednesday by the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, will be able to send alerts even if the phone is silenced in extremely severe emergencies. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning "coordinates and oversees the emergency planning activities of all government departments and public authorities". In the case of emergencies being alerted by a government department, the Office of Emergency Planning must convene a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group within one hour. The Government Task Force and National Emergency Coordination Group are made up of all Government departments and various other bodies, such as the Defence Forces, the HSE and An Garda Síochána and others. Briefing documents from a meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, seen by the Irish Mirror, confirmed that the Office of Emergency Planning has purchased a new app to "alert and notify relevant persons by email and mobile app notification in relation to the convening" of a Government Task Force or National Emergency Coordination Group in the case of large and widespread issues. It was advised that this aims to "streamline" the work of the Office of Emergency Planning, "track responses to ensure that notification is received," and ensure that people can attend these meetings. The system, called the Blackberry App, will have the ability to send text messages and make automated phone calls. The briefing document noted: "An important function of the BlackBerry App is that it can send a 'high' severity alert and this will bypass all of the silencing settings you have on your phone. "We only intend on using this in extreme cases where attendance is required in a very short time frame outside of normal working hours. "The alert will ask the recipient to confirm their attendance in-person, virtually or non-attendance. "It should be noted that a 'moderate' severity alert will be used most frequently, which does not bypass silencing features on your mobile device." It comes as mobile phones across the UK are set to blare out a 10-second siren later this year as the British Government gears up for another test of its emergency alert system. It was tested for the first time in 2023. As reported by the Irish Mirror last year, Ireland's own public warning system has been delayed. It was expected to be in place by the end of 2024, but this was then pushed out to December 2025. Communications Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed last month that it is intended that procurement of the new system will begin in 2025.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Industry and environment groups unveil plan to accelerate renewable energy
The Government should lead a national dialogue on accelerating renewable energy to counter misinformation, a collective of solar and wind industry representatives, and leading environmental groups, has said. The unusual alliance detailed how delivery of renewables and grid infrastructure could speed up, overcoming resistance to projects while protecting the environment. The thinking is set out in a joint declaration by Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), Solar Ireland with the Environmental Pillar, a network of 32 organisations. It sets out targeted measures to ensure Ireland builds a zero-carbon electricity system 'as quickly – and as sustainably – as possible'. READ MORE The declaration was received by Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien at an event on Thursday. Ireland must deliver legally-binding cuts to its carbon emissions 'while also ensuring we preserve and protect our environment', it said. 'We need to co-ordinate efforts to accelerate delivery of new wind and solar farms with an equally critical focus on how we support and enhance our land and marine biodiversity.' The declaration highlights the need for improvements across five priority areas including a 'nature-inclusive acceleration of renewable infrastructure'; generation of transparent, up-to-date and accessible environmental data; and more inclusive stakeholder engagement, especially at community level. It sets out how to pursue enhanced planning and calls for increased investment in environmental education. 'Irish people want the affordable, clean, secure energy that wind farms provide,' said WEI director of external affairs Justin Moran. 'We need to build more, and faster, but also sustainably in a way that protects, and even enhances, our natural biodiversity.' Environmental Pillar co-ordinator Karen Ciesielski said that as Ireland accelerates its renewable energy resources, it must do so in a balanced way, prioritising nature restoration while ensuring environmental laws are upheld. The declaration offered a blueprint for how Government can respond more effectively and urgently to the climate and biodiversity crises through 'increased investment in environmental protection and an effective and robust planning system, with better access to environmental data, meaningful public participation and access to justice', she added. Ronan Power, chief executive of Solar Ireland, said his industry was committed to 'a cleaner, greener future in harmony with nature'. 'By working together with environmental organisations and policymakers, we can ensure renewable growth and biodiversity protection go hand in hand,' he said. The Minister welcomed the declaration as 'it underscores the Government's commitment to rapidly expanding our renewable energy capacity'. 'We have set out a clear path to scale up wind, solar and grid infrastructure, supported by streamlined planning and regulatory processes to remove bottlenecks and accelerate project delivery,' he said. 'All of this is underpinned by a strong commitment to sustainability and protection of our natural environment.'
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
A new train station is being planned for Cabra
IRISH RAIL HAS announced plans for the construction of a new train station in the north Dublin suburb of Cabra. The station, located along the Phoenix Park Tunnel line and planned DART+ South West route, will serve an extra 26,000 people living within one kilometre. It will offer frequent services into the city centre, as well as to the south and west of the country including Cork, Limerick and Galway. These counties will be reachable via the new Heuston West station to be built under the expanded DART+ South West project . The station at Cabra will improve connectivity to commuter stations located between ParkWest and Newbridge – Clondalkin, Adamstown, Hazelhatch. Advertisement A map showing the location of the proposed Cabra train station, marked red. Irish Rail Irish Rail It will present several new links to other modes of transport. There will be four bus stops within 100m of the station entrance, and the station will be served by the proposed Dublin BusConnects routes passing along the R147 Cabra Road, as well as local cycle routes running along the R805 Old Cabra Road. It will be a roughly 13-minute walk to the Luas Green line (Phibsborough stop) and a 23-minute walk to the TUD campus at Grangegorman. Irish Rail says local demand for increased capacity and frequency of service is what drove the decision by the operator to introduce another station. Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, said: 'The addition of the new rail station will be transformational for the local community, offering a significant boost in sustainable public transport.' Irish Rail chief Jim Meade says the planned station 'demonstrated the power of public consultation'. 'The railway line has always been part of Cabra, but yet the community has not been rail connected. This is about to change and change for the better,' he said. Irish Rail plans to initiate work on a planning application in early 2026. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
New ‘go greener' plates available for EVs next month
From next month, new and existing electric vehicles can be fitted or retrofitted with plates that have a vertical green stripe down the side, indicating they emit no carbon dioxide. Transport minister, Darragh O'Brien, said the move would give people and businesses a way to make their commitment to cleaner transport more visible. 'It's a small but effective step and a way for us track progress on the ground and to normalise the idea of zero emission driving,' he said. The green plate will be available for all vehicles that produce zero driving emissions, including cars, vans, motorbikes, trucks and buses. Only fully electric vehicles fall into that category at the moment but in the future, hydrogen fuel cell models will also be included. Under the arrangements announced by the Department of Transport, anyone buying a new EV can get their green plate from their dealership. Existing EV owners can opt to retrofit their existing plates through registration plate suppliers who will add the green 'flash' to it. Ireland follows Germany, Norway and the UK in introducing the distinctive plates. The initiative comes as efforts to encourage motorists to buy electric show mixed results. Sales of EVs fell by 24pc last year and while sales have recovered this year, the 176,680 EVs on the road at the end of May falls a long way short of the almost one million the Government set as the target for 2030. The Climate Change Advisory Council last month urged the Government to accelerate the switch to EVS by increasing the €3,500 purchase grant to €10,000 for low-income households in areas lacking public transport. It also expressed concerns about the slow roll-out of public charging points. Mr O'Brien said the roll-out was under way and over €100 million would be spent on EV infrastructure and supports this year. Brian Cooke, director general of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, said the industry was fully behind the promotion of EVs. 'With the positive increase in battery electric vehicle sales since the start of the year, combined with July being the second highest month for new car sales, we anticipate a swift appearance of electric vehicles,' he said.
