Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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536. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide details on when the ESRI Framework on Behavioural Research for Sustainable Mobility and Climate Action in Transport will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Behavioural change is key to reducing emissions from the transport sector and unlocking the wider societal and economic benefits from the transition. While Government is investing significantly in sustainable transport infrastructure and services, incentivising EV uptake and regulating increased deployment of alternative fuels in transport, we also need to ensure the public are on board with the changes being made and are encouraged to make more sustainable choices in their travel behaviour. Behavioural research is key to building a better understanding of how those choices are made.

For that reason, the ESRI Behavioural Research Framework for Sustainable Mobility and Climate Action in Transport was agreed between the ESRI and the Department of Transport in Q3 2024. It sets out a programme of work over the next 3 years, inter alia, to identify behavioural barriers and solutions that enable individuals, communities, and various organisations to reduce their car use and shift to more sustainable modes of travel or, where suitable alternatives to car use do not exist or are not appropriate, to promote the transition from fossil-fuel cars to EVs. The framework is governed by a Steering Group with diverse representation from officials of the Department and the ESRI. The first tranche of research objectives has been agreed upon and a first output of this work is expected in Q3. The research outputs will be used to inform a wide range of policy measures aimed at driving modal shift to sustainable transport and reducing overall travel demand. The outputs of this research programme will be made available and disseminated widely by the ESRI for the public good. This will be done through the publication of the research in the form of journal articles, policy papers, and presentations at seminars and conferences.