Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Departmental Data
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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516. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the one new actions due and the 13 legacy actions due as outlined in the q1 2025 progress report (details supplied); which actions they are; the reason for the delay; the progress to date and the timeframe for completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43016/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the publication of the Q1 Progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2025 and I note the achievement of 100% of the Department’s CAP25 actions to the end of Q2, 2025, as well as the completion of 5 legacy actions.
Actions completed in 2025 include the provision of funding and development support for destination EV charging points at over 200 eligible sites, as well as the completion of Phase 1 rehabilitation works on the Shannon Foynes freight line.
The information requested has been collated in tabular form and further details can be found in the supplementary excel to the progress report on gov.ie which was published alongside the quarterly progress report.
| Action Number | Actions | Output | Timeline | Status | Reason for Delay & Progress to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR/25/2 | ESRI Framework on Behavioural Research for Sustainable Mobility and Climate Action in Transport | To progress the first tranche of clearly defined research, with a focus on understanding car dependence/usage | Q1, 2025 | Complete | The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Behavioural Research Framework was established between the ESRI and the Department of Transport in Q3 2024 to identify behavioural barriers and solutions to activate 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 Electric Vehicles (EVs). |
| JM/24/9 | Provide publicly accessible vehicle charge point infrastructure at community facilities in the region | Community facility sites approved for infrastructure works and installation of charge point infrastructure | Q4, 2024 | Delayed | Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) continues to work with DECC, EMRA, Pobal and Local Authorities to progress the delivery phase of this scheme. It is a complex scheme which has suffered from delays. Site inspections are underway as of March 2025 and are expected to be completed imminently with the targets of 60-80 chargers to be installed at community facilities by end of 2026. |
| TR/24/17(TF) | Development and publication of Policy Statement on Mobility Hubs | Published Policy Statement | Q3, 2024 | Completed in Q2 2025 | A public consultation on the development of shared mobility hubs was undertaken in March to May 2024, with a close-out stakeholder feedback session held in October 2024. The final Policy Statement on Shared Mobility and the Provision of Hubs was published on 19 June 2025. Planning for phase implementation of the Mobility Hubs Project has commenced. |
| TR/24/18 (TF) | Rollout of expanded Regional Bike sharing schemes in Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway, including enhanced e-bike provision | Launch of electric bike trial and new bike-sharing stations constructed in Limerick and Cork | Q4, 2024 | Completed in Q2 2025 | E-bike trial has been launched with 100 e-bikes operational in Cork, and a further 400 being rolled out in the remaining regional cities in Q3. New bike stations have been installed in Cork and Limerick with a substantial increase in the usage of the bikes as a result (+50% in the first 5 months of 2025). This delay was a result of difficulties getting parts shipped from China to Poland where the manufacturing was taking place. |
| TR/24/21 | Ongoing delivery of Destination Charge Point Scheme – including sports clubs and community facilities | Support provided for the delivery of c.150 charging points by 2025 | Q4, 2024 | Completed in Q1 2025 | Support has been provided to over 200 eligible sites via funding and the development of an updated delivery mechanism for the roll out of charging points. Legal advice indicated that the original delivery plan was not feasible and a new mechanism for delivery had to be developed and agreed and required setting up a framework of Charge Point Operators (CPOs). The procurement of this framework is currently being evaluated and appointments will be made to the panel in June 2025. - Just Transition Fund: Of the 193 applicants, 93 sites were deemed eligible for technical site inspection. The site inspection process has been procured with contracts awarded to two parties. The technical site assessments commenced in Q1 2025 and are now 70% completed with only Westmeath to be finalised. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) had agreed a delivery mechanism with the funder through Local Authorities (LAs) and have provided support to LAs through this process through knowledge and expertise sharing. These site assessments are expected to be completed in the coming weeks. |
| TR/24/22 | Roll out of key elements of EV Infrastructure Strategy | 1. National Destination and Neighbourhood EV Charging Network Plan 2. En-route scheme launched and funding awarded for up to 170 high-powered chargers on motorway network 3. En-route scheme launched for up to 200 chargers on the single carriageway network 4. LA EV infrastructure strategies completed and published with rollout provided for LAs ready to go in 2024 | Q4, 2024 | Delayed | 1. Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. Status – Plan Developed. 2. En-route Scheme Launched and funding awarded for up to 170 high powered chargers on the motorway network. Status: Delivered. 3. En-route scheme launched for up to 200 chargers on the single carriage Network. Status: Delivered. 4. Local Authority (LA) Infrastructure strategies are completed and published with roll out provided for LAs ready to go in 2025. Status: Delayed. Significant engagement undertaken with LAs and internal Departments to agree a mechanism and funding for LAs to develop strategies and deliver EV Infrastructure at destination and Neighbourhood Locations. Following engagement with LAs it was agreed that LAs would lead out on the delivery of the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan subject to funding of specific resource within LAs. All LAs have regionalised and all except one have commenced their EV Infrastructure strategies with the remaining expected to begin in Q2 2025. LAs will complete their strategies in 2025. Additionally the Dublin LAs, lead by Fingal, have commenced a contract to deliver 200 Charge Points at 50 Locations across the shared Dublin LA region. |
| TR/24/24 | Implement the measures in the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 | Ministerial Orders under S44D of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 and transposition of transport energy requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive | Q4, 2024 | Delayed | The transposition of the transport provisions of the EU Renewable Energy Directive via amendments to the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 and related secondary legislation is on schedule. An SI drafted by the Department of Transport is currently under review by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government (OPC). |
| TR/24/25 | Re-evaluation of the policy framework for the decarbonisation of ports as part of the overall review of National Ports Policy | Completed public consultation on draft national ports policy | Q2, 2024 | Delayed | A review of the National Ports Policy has begun within the Department of Transport. A thematic issues paper was published in October 2023 for public consultation. The Department has assessed the responses to the issues paper and is drafting a revised National Ports Policy. A review paper, to be prepared by the Irish Maritime Development Office on port capacity options post-2040, is awaited in Q2 2025 in order to complete the draft. |
| TR/24/3 | Supporting fuel technology improvement in transport through a dedicated working group on alternative fuels in transport. | Progress Report to Minister published online | Q4, 2024 | Completed in Q1 2025 | The Alternative Fuels for Transport Working Group 2024 Report received ministerial approval once the new government was formed and was published on the Department of Transport website on 21 March 2025. |
| TR/24/4(TF) | Progress evidence-based engagement strategy actions and advertising campaigns to support achievement of transport sector behavioural change and emissions abatement targets | Follow-up national scale communications campaign around climate action and sustainable mobility, and showcase Public Engagement Pilot Initiatives. | Q4, 2024 | Delayed | The Electric Vehicle (EV) phase of the “Your Journey Counts” advertising campaign ran from December 2023 to January 2024 across radio, digital, social and search to help support uptake and achievement of EV targets. Further to publication of the Public Engagement Strategy in May 2024, an extended stakeholder consultation process on potential pilot engagement interventions was completed in Q3 2024 which identified several Public Engagement Pilot Initiatives to be delivered in 2025 and recommended that these be supported by a rigorous independent evaluation framework. The implementation of the pilots will rollout throughout 2025. The contract for the evaluation framework is on track to be awarded in April 2025. The start date for both school pilots is September 2025, while the start date for the workplace and sports pilots is due to be agreed with the evaluators in early Q2 2025. |
| TR/24/6 | Enhanced rail connectivity to ports – rehabilitation of Shannon-Foynes freight line | Completion of Phase 1 rehabilitation works on Shannon Foynes to Limerick rail freight line | Q4, 2024 | Completed in Q1 2025 | At the end of Q1 2025, the track laying works for the Shannon Foynes freight line were completed, with the machinery required for track laying (such as the tamper and regulator) taken off site by the Infrastructure Manager in March 2025, marking completion of Phase 1 of the rehabilitation works. This action was delayed to unforeseen challenges: co-ordination of public road closures and utility diversions, sourcing spare parts for the specialist track laying plant, and unforeseen ground conditions. |
| TR/24/9(TF) | Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies – programme of review, update, appraisal | Publication of finalised Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy | Q4, 2024 | Delayed | In January 2023, the High Court remitted the application for approval of the N6 Galway City Ring Road back to An Bord Pleanála for further consideration. An Bord Pleanála asked Galway County Council to provide additional updated information in relation to the planning consent application for the Ring Road which will include updating the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Natura Impact Statement. |
| TR/23/19 | Publish National Demand Management Strategy | Publication of National Demand Management Strategy | Q4, 2023 | Delayed | A draft strategy was published and launched for public consultation between April and August 2024. Extensive stakeholder engagement was also undertaken during this period. The draft Strategy was brought to Government in October 2024, but no decision was taken at that time. Progress on this workstream is continuing, with a view to fulfilling the CAP23 action - subject to the necessary approvals - in 2025. |
| TR/23/46(TF) | SMP Pathfinder: Accelerate implementation of Safe Routes to School Programme through improved resourcing and focus on more rapid implementation of front-of-school treatments – providing immediate safety improvements to school surroundings | Completion of baseline surveys and scheme design for Phase 2 schools, and continued infrastructure roll-out for Phase 1 & 2 Schools. | Q4, 2023 | Delayed | Following assessment, 170 schools were selected for inclusion in the Round 1 programme in June 2021. By end of April 2025, 82 Front of School Treatments of Round 1 schools were completed, with a further 37 at detailed design or construction stage and just 11 still at option development stage. Round 2, which included 109 schools throughout the country, was launched in December 2022. By the end of April 2025, 20 Front of School Treatments of Round 2 schools were completed, with 18 more at detailed design or construction stage. 26 are still at option development stage. Round 3 was launched in November 2024 with 142 schools, 68 of them located on higher speed rural roads. Surveys and delivery plans for Round 3 are to be produced throughout 2025. By the end of April 2025, cycle and scooter parking was provided to 822 schools as part of the Safe Routes to School programme. |
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