Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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94. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is engaging with other Government Departments on the potential to draw-down EU social climate funding, or EU structural funding, to support the roll out of active travel and shared mobility initiatives, such as shared mobility hubs and shared bike schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27834/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Regulation (EU) 2023/955, which provides for the establishment of a Social Climate Fund, all EU Member States are required to prepare a Social Climate Plan. These Plans will set out the programmes in the period 2026-2032 that are aimed at addressing the social and distributional effects of fossil fuel price increases.

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is now preparing a draft Social Climate Plan (SCP) for Ireland in consultation with relevant departmental stakeholders, including this Department, and the European Commission. A variety of targeted measures aimed at providing long-term solutions to reduce fossil fuels reliance and effectively help vulnerable groups impacted by the rising price of carbon are being examined for inclusion in the Plan. DECC officials, with the assistance of my Department, are currently designing a public consultation to inform the development of Ireland's SCP. This public consultation is expected to be launched in June.

While it is noted that transport related projects and programmes are eligible for inclusion in the Social Climate Plan, the exact nature of the projects to be included across all eligible project types to support vulnerable groups will be determined having regard to the outcome of the public consultation, consultations with the relevant Departments, led by DECC, and subject to Government approval.

In the meantime, to combat the rising cost of fossil fuel prices and to protect vulnerable groups, the Department of Transport’s Public Service Obligation programme and the Department of Social Protection’s Free Travel Scheme will continue to provide free travel or significantly reduced fares to approximately half of Ireland’s population, while fares for the remainder of the population will remain heavily subsidised.  In advance of the Social Climate Plan being developed, measures that ensure ongoing affordability continue to be rolled out - as evidenced through the extension of free fares for public transport to children aged eight and under (Budget 2025) and the extension of the Young Adult Card to 24 and 25 year olds (Budget 2024).

More access to services is also important from the perspective of protecting vulnerable groups from transport poverty. For example, through the Connecting Ireland programme in recent years, 240 new towns and villages have now been connected to the public transport network, giving 600,000 people access to new or enhanced public transport services. In respect of active travel, more than 1,000 projects are currently being progressed under the NTA’s Active Travel Infrastructure Programme, thus putting in place the supports needed for lower cost walking and cycling journeys.

Work is also underway to provide other viable low-cost options such as improving access to shared mobility. The NTA are progressing plans for a significant expansion of the existing Transport for Ireland (TfI) public bikes schemes from the end of this year - in Cork, Waterford, Galway and Limerick. It is envisaged that this will increase both the geographical coverage of these shared schemes as well as the variety of shared micro mobility options on offer – which may include a mix of bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters or e-cargo bikes at various hubs and points - depending on the city.

A further Mobility Hubs pilot project is also being progressed, which will involve the establishment of between 200 and 250 mobility hubs across several urban locations, to be rolled out from mid-2026. Together, these schemes will provide a practical and cost-effective alternative to costly private car travel in these locations.