Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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265. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average cost to establish a mobility hub. [31694/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 312 and 313 of 20 May 2025, the estimated full- and first-year cost to operate a mobility hub. [31696/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 267 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is proposed to provide a network of mobility hubs through the National Transport Authority's Shared Micromobility Schemes, and also through a planned Mobility Hubs pilot that will deliver and test the operation of mobility hub networks in diverse urban locations across Ireland.

At this time, it is difficult to provide a definitive answer on costs, given the variables involved. For example, depending on the location of a hub and the related demand for the service, mobility hubs could consist of one or more of the following shared modes: shared bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-cargo bikes and Electric Vehicles (EVs).

Accordingly, the cost of establishing and operating each hub could vary significantly due to a number of factors:

• The size of the mobility hub (the quantum of modes available, and the number of units being provided e.g. number of bikes, e-scooters, electric vehicles etc);
• The need for installation of EV charging and, if so, the length of cabling required and the costs of the associated civil works (which will vary from location to location);
• The positioning of the hub (existing on-road space such as repurposed car-parking spaces or new build-outs);
• The need for additional civil works at the location, such as the provision of dropped kerbs; and
• The nature of the hub (stand-alone versus part of a network, which may allow for economies of scale).

It should be noted, however, that this range of costs is not absolute and relates only to the construction of the mobility hub infrastructure and not the shared assets (EVs, bikes, cargo bikes, e-scooters, etc.). The costs of providing theses assets can also vary considerably depending on the operational model – whether State-owned and/or operated, privately owned and operated on a fully commercial basis, privately owned and operated with the support of a State subsidy, or a mixed approach in which different financial models are in place for different modes. It is intended that a variety of financial models will be considered as part of the NTA’s expansion of its Shared Micromobility Schemes as well as the Mobility Hubs pilot project.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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266. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 312 and 313 of 20 May 2025, the funding allocated to expand the shared micromobility scheme. [31695/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to sustainable mobility, including the provision of funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in support of public bike-sharing schemes in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford and the planned expansion of these as shared micromobility schemes later in 2025.

Matters related to the day-to-day operations, management and allocations for the expansion of these schemes are primarily a matter for the relevant local authorities, in conjunction with the NTA. As such, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.