Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there was no allocated supports for shared mobility providers offered in Budget 2025, considering these operators play a leading role in making transport more sustainable, accessible and affordable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40732/24]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on Action 87 of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, on the development of a strategy for the expansion of car share, bike, PTT services at transport hubs, considering there was no mention of shared mobility in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40733/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

No specific funding supports were included in Budget 2025 for shared mobility providers. However, the Department recognises the challenges faced by private shared mobility providers and remains committed to supporting the expansion of shared mobility options through the advancement of commitments in the Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP), and both the 2023 and 2024 Climate Action Plans (CAPs).

Action 87 of the SMP, which aims to expand shared car, bike and PPT services at transport hubs and interchanges through the development of a strategy for the rollout of expanded shared services, is one of these key commitments and meaningful progress continues to be made in delivering this action. A draft strategy has been prepared, taking account of related actions in the SMP but also new actions in CAPs 2023 and 2024, and consequently takes a wider perspective on the expansion of shared mobility beyond solely transport hubs and interchanges. It is expected to be finalised in the coming months. 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 published an advice note for local authorities on the issue of shared micro mobility services In July this year.

Additionally, 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. The paper identified challenges and opportunities for the development of shared mobility hubs and sought input from stakeholders and the public on several key issues, including on the development of business models and approaches that would maximise uptake of shared mobility modes and support the viability of shared mobility providers.

Approximately 100 submissions were received by my Department in response to this public consultation. These submissions have been carefully considered and work is underway to develop a report on the outcome of the public consultation. As part of that process, my officials met with shared mobility providers and other stakeholders on 1 October to discuss the findings of the consultation and to seek their insights on the issues, challenges and opportunities identified.

It is intended that the inputs from this consultation process will help to identify a suitable approach to support the expansion of shared mobility services in Ireland, which will be reflected in a new National Policy Statement on Shared Mobility Hubs to be completed in the coming months.