Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will again refer to the OECD report I just mentioned, which sets out a requirement for large behavioural change in the direction of sustainable modes, travel reductions and shared mobility. Along with road space reallocation and communication efforts to address car-centric mindsets, it identifies the mainstreaming of on-demand shared services as one of the policy areas with a high transformative potential to reduce car dependency.

My Department's national sustainable mobility policy, SMP, was published in April. It sets out a strategic framework for promoting active travel and public transport in line with targets under the climate action plan. Action 87 of the SMP seeks to "expand shared car, bike and powered personal transporters (PPT) services at transport hubs and interchanges" and has an output to develop a strategy for the roll-out of expanded shared services next year. The NTA, which is leading on this action, has confirmed that it is undertaking a study into the provision of shared station-less e-bike schemes in the greater Dublin area and how it is expected to evolve over the coming years. This study will examine issues such as licensing and management to ensure an equitable distribution of shared e-bikes across the greater Dublin area. The report is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

The SMP recognises the need to promote the adoption of shared mobility schemes and the integration of newer modes, such as electric scooters, with other modes and our public transport system. While Ireland already has examples of shared car and bike schemes, mainly in the five cities, policy and market development in the area of shared mobility continue to evolve, particularly the expansion of on-demand micro transport services.

My Department regularly engages with key stakeholders in this area and is planning further engagement through the delivery, next year of a national sustainable mobility forum. The real beacon of hope is what we saw in Finglas - the Deputy attended its opening - where Dublin City Council put in a shared e-bike, car-sharing and charging system on council land. We might look to replicate that model across the city and other cities. I would be interested to hear the Deputy's experience of how that is working and whether it could be replicated across other areas in the city.

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