Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has specific initiatives in place to facilitate vehicle-sharing platforms; and the role he envisages they can play in a more sustainable transport strategy. [2216/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Shared mobility services, such as car-share clubs, escooter or bike-share schemes and other short-term rental or sharing models, particularly those which can be obtained ‘on demand’, are an effective mechanism for reducing car dependency. This was recognised in the recent OECD Report 'Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net Zero', which underlined the transformative potential of on-demand shared services, including in active travel and micromobility.

In that context, a new unit has been established within my department to actively engage with shared mobility operators and partnerships, local authorities, and the National Transport Authority to develop and guide policy around shared mobility and promote the use of shared mobility nationally. This engagement will be aimed at developing more coherent policy and supports, including technical innovation and the development of appropriate regulation, to scale up shared mobility services around the country.

Additionally, my department will work with its partners across Government to develop further supports for the electrification of transport through consideration of ‘eMobility hub’ models. These hubs would be distributed widely and would consist of charging infrastructure for shared electric mobility solutions such as e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as car clubs operating EVs for short-term hire.

In addition to these actions, the recently published Climate Action Plan includes a commitment to undertake policy initiatives to support access to e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, including shared options. The sharing of e-mobility assets as a service has the potential to enable modal shift from private car ownership across all types of settlements. The prospective benefits of these shared services is already recognised through an array of actions to be implemented through our national Sustainable Mobility Policy and its associated Pathfinder Programme, which was launched last October.

In summary, there are many shared mobility initiatives in place or in development and these are anticipated to play a key role in reducing car dependency and in halving transport emissions by 2030.