Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of local authority areas that are actively endorsing shared mobility as a transport option for commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28051/24]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a shared mobility strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28052/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 164 together.

As the Deputy will know, there are several actions in both the Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) and the two most recent Climate Action Plans to expand the range of shared mobility options in Ireland. For example, Action 87 in the SMP commits the National Transport Authority (NTA) to expanding 'shared car, bike and powered personal transporters (PPT) services at transport hubs and interchanges', and to develop a 'strategy for rollout of expanded shared services'. I understand that the NTA have made good progress on this action.

Additionally, Action 18 commits to 'expanding the operation of bike share schemes (including electric bikes) in cities'. This is further reflected in the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), which commits to expanding 'the operation and availability of bike share schemes nationally' and undertaking 'a detailed scoping assessment of policy models for the development and management of shared micro-mobility schemes in the GDA, for subsequent nationwide implementation'.

Furthermore, there are commitments in the CAP to work closely with shared mobility services providers and partnerships to develop more coherent policy and supports, to develop and publish a Policy Statement on Mobility Hubs, and to develop and rollout a ‘eMobility Hub’ model in the 5 Cities. As well as these public sector policy commitments, the private shared mobility market has expanded considerably in recent years, with private bike sharing schemes now available in many towns across the country along with car share schemes.

My Department and the National Transport Authority have been considering suitable options for fulfilling all of the aforementioned actions and ambitions in a cohesive way. Key considerations include the need for appropriate regulation to ensure the delivery of high-quality services, addressing logistical challenges such as facilitating the use of shared mobility modes across local authority boundaries, and the establishment of a sustainable model of shared mobility service provision in both cities and towns.

In advance of this work being concluded, and to coincide with the making of regulations and recent launch of e-scooters as a legal mode for use on Irish roads, my Department recently prepared and published an advice note for local authorities on the issue of shared micromobility services.

Finally, to inform wider policy development in the area, I launched a public consultation process on shared mobility hubs in March this year and published an Issues Paper to help elicit views on their development. By the end of the process, circa 100 submissions were received by my Department. These submissions, along with outcomes from engagement with key interest groups, will help to inform overall direction on shared mobility and to shape a new National Policy Statement on Shared Mobility Hubs which is due for completion later in 2024.