Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as an gcuireadh chun a bheith anseo os comhair an choiste iompair maidin inniu. Táim ag tnúth go mór leis an gcuid oibre atá le déanamh againn le chéile ar son ár ndaoine fud fad na tíre.

I thank the Chairman and the committee for the invitation and I look forward to working with members of the committee over the course of this Dáil term on behalf of our people throughout the country. Members will be aware of the incident in Foynes yesterday. As Minister for Transport, my thoughts are with the two injured parties there. I wish them a speedy recovery and thank the emergency services and authorities at Shannon Foynes Port for the manner in which they responded to that incident. I know all of the committee members will join me in that.

I wish the Chairman well in his position as Chair of this committee, which will be a very important one as we advance the delivery of public transport services and transport infrastructure throughout the country on behalf of our people. This is a good opportunity to discuss the 2025 Estimates with the committee.

The budget is set out in six programmes: programme A, sustainable mobility – active travel and greenways; programme B, sustainable mobility - public transport; programme C, road safety and road networks; programme D, civil aviation; programme E, maritime safety and transport; and programme F, information technology, engagement and research delivery.

The set of transport Estimates before the committee provide an overall gross allocation to the Department of Transport of €3.919 billion, which constitutes €1.036 billion in current expenditure and €2.882 billion in capital investment. The allocation will support our ambitions in delivering on the transport-related objectives in the national development plan, NDP, and, very importantly, the climate action plan, delivering safe, sustainable and accessible transport options in urban and rural areas. It will support our ambitions in maintaining and enhancing road, aviation, and maritime safety, security and connectivity.

The advance brief before the committee highlights many of the achievements of 2024. This committee will be looking forward as well. The strong growth in public transport passenger numbers with public service obligation, PSO, passengers surpassing 1 million a day for the first time ever in October, and the retention of the 20% reduction on fares are to name but two highlights of 2024. However, it also highlights many of the challenges that we face going into 2025, from the immediate, the ongoing concern around road fatalities, to the long term, the challenge of rapidly reducing carbon emissions in the sector and the increasingly expected, but unpredictable, damage caused to our infrastructure by extreme weather events.

Turning first to programme A, which relates to active travel, €359.991 million, or €360 million, is allocated under this programme. My Department continues to deliver on the programme for Government commitment of providing €360 million per annum to invest in active travel. Strategic programmes, such as the safe routes to school programme, which has been an incredible success for our school communities across the country, saw round three of the programme launched in November 2024 with an additional 141 schools entering the programme. The programme will support the design of integrated networks and will greatly enhance safety and accessibility and make active travel a very attractive alternative to the private car. Active travel and greenways projects under construction will proceed apace. As the outturn for 2024 demonstrates, the demand for the investment is there and we will continue to deliver.

A sum of €1.756 billion has been allocated to programme B, sustainable mobility and public transport, for public transport infrastructure investment and investment in our services.

This funding will continue to protect existing networks, modernise our networks and fleets and provide new connections. It will provide for the existing range of transport services and facilitate the ongoing delivery of BusConnects, Connecting Ireland and new town service plans, providing better connected, more frequent services and building that real alternative to the private car to which our citizens are responding. A total of €658.442 million is allocated in public service obligation, PSO, funding. The 20% discount on public transport fares is retained for 2025. This funding provides for the continuation of the 90-minute fare and extension of the upper age limit of the young adult card from 23 to 25 years.

The NTA will continue to roll out new services in line with the BusConnects, Connecting Ireland and new town services plans so we can build on the achievements of 2024 in growing passenger numbers on our networks. I am pleased to see the steady growth in passenger numbers which demonstrates the success of our investment to date.

A sum of €1.043 billion is allocated to public transport investment. Plans for 2025 include ongoing protection and renewal of the rail network; progression of Cork area commuter rail; construction of two core bus corridors; the expansion of the independent travel support scheme previously called the travel assist scheme; and continued progression of public transport projects. Now that these projects are starting to exit the planning system, 2025 and onwards should see real progress in this regard. To take Bus Connects as an example, 12 projects are through planning. Some are subject to judicial review but we intend to start the construction of the first Bus Connects corridor this year and have received tenders in that regard.

A total of €1.512 billion is allocated to programme C, road networks and road safety. That includes electric vehicle, EV, grants and infrastructure. This funding will enable us to maintain and renew the national, regional and local road surfaces; undertake safety works and bridge maintenance and rehabilitation; and meet our contractual obligations under public-private partnerships that delivered parts of our motorway network. It will also fund the construction of new national and regional and local roads and vital safety-related services and progress the electrification of our transport networks.

A total of €238 million has been allocated to the construction of new national roads and €70 million for regional and local road improvement schemes. Construction is continuing on a number of major roads, including the re-tendered Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue road, Cork to Ringaskiddy road and the Adare bypass.

Some €271.750 million has been allocated to protection and renewal of national roads, €643.667 million for protection and renewal of regional and local roads and an additional €98 million in public-private partnership, PPP, operational payments.

We are allocating €105.272 million to EV grants and infrastructure. The recent publication of regional and local plan will help deliver the charging infrastructure people need, where they need it, including at home, on the road, and at key destinations and neighbourhoods across the community. Together with the national road EV charging plan, it provides a complete national plan, ensuring no gaps in coverage and supporting Ireland’s transition to cleaner transport.

In relation to road safety, €7.88 million has been provided to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety to support its vital work in detecting drug and alcohol misuse by drivers. The vast majority of the Road Safety Authority, RSA, funding is received directly from services paid by the public for driver testing, driver licensing and the national car test, NCT, rather than being provided for through the Department’s allocation. However, my Department will continue to work closely with the Road Safety Authority on all matters related to road safety and has oversight of all of its spending, regardless of the source of funding.

Turning to programme D, civil aviation, €35.778 million is allocated to aviation. The regional airports programme provides targeted supports to regional airports that handle fewer than 1 million passengers per annum. Airports eligible for funding under the programme in 2025 are Ireland West Airport and Kerry and Donegal airports. Aligning with the national development plan, NDP, almost €36 million in capital funding was allocated under this programme over the years 2021 to 2024, with an additional €9 million in capital funding made available in 2025. A further €8.015 million in current funding is available for allocation in 2025. In addition to providing operational funding to regional airports, this funding will support the operation of a PSO air service, which is provided under contract by Emerald Airlines between Donegal and Dublin. A total of €11.171 million is allocated to fund services such as air accident insurance and membership of key international organisations.

The sum of €199.175 million is allocated to programme E, maritime transport and safety. Most of that funding is directed to the Irish Coast Guard. This includes delivery of the new national search and rescue, SAR, aviation contract incorporating SAR services and air ambulance support to the HSE and the island communities. The Shannon base has already transitioned from CHC to Bristow under the new contract and the transition period of the remaining three bases at Weston, Sligo and Waterford concludes on 1 February 2026, with Weston going live this month. The priority during the ongoing transition of the remaining three SAR bases is the safe and effective transfer of operations without interruption to this essential State service.  The expanded aviation service will significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s capabilities, including inland and maritime search and rescue, aeromedical support for the HSE, including day and night-time support for island communities, environmental monitoring and new aerial firefighting capacity. The funding also includes investment in the Commissioner of Irish Lights and marine casualty investigations.

A total of €55.332 million is allocated to programme F, information technology, engagement and research delivery. Given the central importance of IT infrastructure to how the Department conducts its operations and delivers front-line services such as licensing services and motor tax collection, the digital hub is a new centralised structure which brings together all the core ICT and digital functions in the Department. It is responsible for overseeing technology strategy, technology and business operations, data management, data analytics and ICT project management. It comprises five divisions that have responsibility for the support of all IT services for the Department and the National Vehicle and Driver File, NVDF. This programme also includes two additional subheads, namely, climate engagement and research programmes. Funding will be used to commission research to provide for a robust evidence base for climate policy development, implementation, communication, and reporting concerning the transport sector. This will support information campaigns such as Your Journey Counts, which highlights how individual choices can make transport more sustainable, and also vital research into areas such as sustainable fuels.

I am pleased to see how the strategic direction of the Department has developed over the past few years and would like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, former Deputy Eamon Ryan, for the work he did in the Department. In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, we are preparing a new strategy statement at the moment. The programme for Government will underpin the new strategy which will also take account of other existing and overarching national strategies and plans, including the NDP, which we are in the process of reviewing, the road haulage strategy which runs up to 2031, the all-island strategic rail review, the sustainable mobility policy and the climate action plan. I will be seeking to ensure that we maintain the real momentum that we have built up in delivering safe, secure and accessible transport networks that serve all our citizens’ needs. I am very happy to take any questions that members have.