Written answers
Thursday, 27 November 2025
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Departmental Schemes
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to list all funding schemes, grant programmes and any other financial supports that are currently administered by his Department and its agencies; the expected launch and closing dates for applications for each scheme in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66938/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Please see list of schemes below as requested. The Department and its agencies fund a wide range of supports and schemes in areas under its remit, including active travel, electrification of transport networks, aviation and roads.
| All Funding Scheme/Grant Programme Names | 2026 Launch Date | 2026 Closing Date for Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030 | Expected to be published Q4 2025-Q1 2026 | January 2026 - Capital Schemes October 2026 - Operational Scheme |
| National Roads Refer to TII | Please see response text below | |
| Public Transport Public Service Obligation (PSO) Programme | N/A Please see response below | N/A |
| Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR) Exchequer Grant | N/A | N/A |
| Active Travel Infrastructure incl. Safe Routes to School – grant funding | N/A | N/A - administered to Local Authorities through the NTA on an annual basis – no application process involved |
| CycleRight cycle training | N/A | N/A - qualified trainers apply for funding on completion of training courses in schools |
| Variety Ireland Recycle Mobility Programme | N/A | N/A - Programme co-funded on an annual basis on receipt of invoices for adapted trikes |
| Pilot Bike Upcycling Initiative | N/A | N/A - Annual allocation of funding for fixed term based on agreed Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Transport/Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht/Pobal |
| Greenways - grant funding | N/A | N/A - administered to Local Authorities through the TII on an annual basis – no formal application process involved. |
| Cross border Greenways grant funding | N/A - administered by the Department of Transport on a circumstantial basis e.g., to support schemes in receipt of EU and/ or Shared Island funding which require additional support. | |
| Pilot Greenway Interpretation Scheme Initiative - Route Activation | N/A - Allocation of funding for fixed term based on agreed outputs between Department of Transport and Cork County Council. | |
| EuroVelo Coordination and Promotion | N/A - Annual allocation of funding for fixed term based on agreed Service Level Agreement between Department of Transport/ Cycling Ireland. | |
| SEAI* EV Purchase Grant (including L Category) | Scheme to continue start of 2026 | Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) receive applications through year, scheme to close end of 2026 |
| SEAI Fleet Assessment | Scheme to continue start of 2026 | SEAI receive applications through year, scheme to close end 2026 |
| SEAI Home Charger Grant | Scheme to continue start of 2026 | SEAI receive applications through year, scheme to close end of 2026 |
| SEAI Apartment grant | Scheme to continue start of 2026 | SEAI receive applications through year, scheme to close end of 2026 |
| NTA ESPSV Grant scheme | Scheme estimated to reopen Jan-Feb 2026 | Applications close when scheme allocation is reached |
| TII ZEHDV Grant Scheme (Including HDV charging infrastructure purchase grants) | Scheme to continue start of 2026 | Applications close when scheme allocation is reached |
| TII LDV En-Route Grant Schemes | Ongoing | Schemes closed to applications, committed to funding throughout 2026 |
| Local Authority Pilot projects and EV charging roll out | Ongoing | Ongoing – committed to funding throughout pilot projects and EV infrastructure roll out |
| Coastal and Inshore, Mountain and Cave Rescue Grants Programme | Ongoing | n/a - not accepting new applications |
| Regional and Local Road Grant Programme | Q1 2026 | Q4 2026 |
National Roads
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to all funding schemes, grant programmes and any other financial supports.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Regional and Local Roads
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils’ own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
The Department provides grant assistance to local authorities under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme for a number of targeted programmes, including the Safety Improvement Programme, Bridge Rehabilitation Programme, Community Involvement Scheme, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Works and Strategic Rehabilitation Regional Road Grant.
Applications under these programmes are sought from local authorities in quarter three and four each year for consideration for funding in the subsequent year.
It is expected that 2026 grant allocations for regional and local roads will be notified to local authorities early next year.
Regional Airports Programme
The Programme for Government commits to continue to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. This new programme is being developed by my Department for implementation next year. In line with previous years, eligible airports will be invited to submit capital project proposals in January and operational funding applications in October.
Public Transport
As the Deputy may be aware, Public Service Obligation (PSO) services are socially necessary but financially unviable public transport services which are funded through a combination of Exchequer funding (both the PSO grant and funding from the Department of Social Protection for the Free Travel Scheme) and passenger fare revenue.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of integrated, accessible and sustainable public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators and state agencies, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues. In line with its statutory remit for public transport services and infrastructure, the NTA administers a number of public transport schemes and grant payments.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for public transport, including grant payments, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
The Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR) budget is split between an industrial levy under Section 26(1) of the Railway Safety Act 2005, and an Exchequer grant. The CRR was established on January 1, 2006, and was fully funded through an annual Exchequer grant for the first three years of its existence. Section 26(2) of the Act provides that CRR could not impose a levy on the railway industry before December 31, 2007, so that the first Order was not made until 2008, which allowed for the charging of a levy from January 1, 2009.
This levy is applied through statutory instrument. As in previous years, grant funding covers approximately 24.5% of funding required to meet the projected budget of CRR, with the balance provided through the levy and from CRR reserves. The Exchequer grant covers any costs that are not related to safety regulation or supervisory activities, covering pension payments, and payroll costs that are not covered by the levy.
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