Written answers
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Departmental Policies
Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the main policy achievements of his Department since 23 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38764/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is responsible for implementing a wide range of commitments in the Programme for Government: Securing Our Future, and plays a crucial role in supporting other cross-government commitments. We continue to make steady progress in our ambitious infrastructure and service delivery plans.
Road investment has been a key area, with €713m announced for Regional and Local Roads Grant allocations in February. This is an increase of 8% on 2024. In April the Government approved the main construction contract for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy. The Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 set a goal to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50%, the Phase 2 Action Plan for 2025 to 2027 will be published in the coming days.
In Public Transport, we are on course to commence construction in 2025 of the first of the BusConnects corridors in Dublin, between Liffey Valley and the City Centre. Both DART+ West and DART+ South-West are ready to advance towards construction market engagement and construction. We had welcome news in June that DART+ West is no longer subject to judicial review proceedings. The newest DART station, Woodbrook, is due to open next month.
In April, a new ‘through’ platform at Kent station in Cork opened, which was a key landmark in the delivery of the Cork Commuter Rail Project. The public consultation on Phase 2 of the Programme launched in June, including proposals for eight new stations, a new fleet maintenance depot and full electrification of the network to support more frequent, reliable and sustainable rail transport for Cork. A public consultation for the emerging preferred route for Luas Cork was launched on 14th April.
Public transport services have also seen new routes and enhancements, with the roll-out of the E-Spine in Dublin in January and the launch of the Portlaoise new town service in February. We have made significant progress in Active Travel, including a major milestone in the delivery and installation of the active travel bridge in Waterford City, spanning the North and South Quays.
As the summer recess draws near, I look forward to continued progress on major investment projects and key transport services. I will be making a strong case for transport investment in the ongoing NDP negotiations and in the forthcoming Autumn Budget.
Additional policy achievements in my Department since 23 January 2025 are detailed in the table below.
| Transport Security Force Options Paper | An options paper for the Transport Security Force has been presented to me and discussed with the Minister for Justice. These options have also been presented to the Public Transport Safety Working Group to involve stakeholders in the decision making and drafting processes. |
|---|---|
| Continued growth in the number of passengers using the public transport network | Continued growth in the use of PSO public transport services in 2025, reaching the milestone of 1 million passenger journeys daily, with a 9% increase in recent periods compared to 2024. |
| CIÉ Governance Review | A Governance Review of the CIÉ Group inclusive of Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus (together the operating companies), and CIÉ Holding Company was completed by NewERA with implementation of four key recommendations underway. |
| Publication of a new 'National Policy Statement on Shared Mobility and the Provision of Hubs' | The Statement fulfils commitments in the National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) and annual Climate Action Plans to support the expansion of shared mobility options, with a particular focus on the development of shared mobility hubs. Additionally, the publication of the Statement is a key step towards fulfilling the 2025 Programme for Government commitment to invest in a range of transport options for enhancing connectivity and, more specifically, the pledge to establish mobility hubs in each local authority area in the country. |
| Enactment of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 | This is a commitment within the Programme for Government. The Act provides for the establishment of the Marine Accident Investigation Unit and the dissolution of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. It also allows for the regulation of offshore service vessels, including offshore renewable energy service vessels. |
| The Maritime Navigation Safety Guidance & Emergency Response document for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREI) | This document has been developed in response to the proposed development of OREI in Irish waters. The considerations and criteria are intended to address the navigational and emergency response impacts of OREIs proposed for Irish waters. |
| Publication of Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 | The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 sets out a pathway for achievement of Climate Action Plan (CAP) biofuel targets and European targets for renewable energy in transport as set out in the Renewable Energy Directive, including EU requirements for sustainability certification and greenhouse gas reduction. |
| Ireland’s 1st Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap | In recognition of the important contribution that Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) can make toward decarbonising the aviation industry, my Department has recently finalised a national SAF Policy Roadmap. This is an important Programme for Government commitment and the Roadmap which will be published soon, will set out a direction of travel for the deployment of SAF in Ireland. |
| Supporting the public, business community, and wider road transport sector in making the switch to electric vehicles | The Shared Charging Pilot Scheme was introduced and aims to make EV charging more accessible and affordable while easing demand on public infrastructure. Phase 3 of the ZEVI-TII EV Recharging Infrastructure LDV National Road Grant Scheme was launched. It focuses on installing high-powered recharging stations along 3,000 km of national primary and secondary roads, ensuring that EV drivers have reliable access to charging points across the country. The final publication of the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan will help deliver the charging infrastructure people need, where and when they need it. Green ‘Flash’ Registration Plates for Electric Vehicles to be rolled out in July, designed to give visibility to vehicles that emit no CO2 emissions, supporting the shift to cleaner, greener transport across the country. |
| Guidance and Information Note for Local Authorities: Implementing Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Road Maintenance Projects | My Department in conjunction with Cork County Council completed the Guidance and Information Note for Local Authorities: Implementing Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Road Maintenance Contracts |
| Guidelines on the Rehabilitation of Roads Over Peat 2nd Edition | My Department completed the revision of the guidance document and issued the revised Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Roads Over Peat 2nd Edition April 2025. |
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