Cathal Crowe
Question:114. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70533/25]
View answerWednesday, 10 December 2025
Questions (114)
Written answers
I am pleased to provide the below as a brief overview of the policy achievements of my Department in 2025, which will be included and expanded upon in our Annual Report to be published next year.
Aviation
• Publication of Ireland’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy Roadmap, fulfilling a clear commitment in the Programme for Government. The Roadmap represents an important first step in developing Ireland’s national SAF policy, identifying a number of actions which will be built upon in future iterations, and setting a path for future SAF policy development.
• A policy decision was taken to pursue a legislative course of action to address the passenger cap at Dublin Airport in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. Drafting of a General Scheme to address this is underway.
• In August 2025, I published the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy Framework. The Framework will guide high-level strategic planning and development of the UAS sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental and other concerns.
• In May 2025, I published the Code on Assistance to the Victims of Air Accidents and Their Families. The Code establishes a set of high-level principles designed to guide and inform the assistance provided to the victims and their families in the aftermath of an air accident. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of key organisations, including government departments, state agencies, airlines, and airports ensuring that each plays an effective part in the provision of assistance.
Climate Action
• Development and Publication of the Transport Sectoral Adaptation Plan (T-SAPII) 2025-2030. The Plan was developed in close consultation with transport stakeholders, with the shared goal of long-term resilience across the transport network to minimise the impacts of climate change on people and the economy.
• Development and Publication of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 setting out a trajectory of annual increase for renewable fuel in transport consumption to meet Climate Action Plan biofuel targets E10/B20 by 2030 and EU Renewable Energy targets and requirements.
• As well as the publication of the Year 3 Progress Report related to the Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) Action Plan 2022-2025, the Department convened four National Sustainable Mobility Forum events in May 2025 to help inform the development of the next SMP Action Plan for the period 2026 to 2030. Views captured from the events were summarised in a published report.
• A new ‘Policy Statement on Shared Mobility and the Provision of Hubs’ was published in June 2025. Alongside the Policy Statement, work on a new Mobility Hubs Pilot Programme was advanced, with five candidate locations (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Cork City and towns of Carlow, Dundalk and Sligo) also announced in June.
• We achieved the Climate Action Plan Electric Vehicle Target for 195,000 EVs on Irish roads -before end 2025, slightly ahead of schedule.
• Three national road EV infrastructure schemes were procured and moved to rollout, to deliver 160 recharging hubs across the national road network.
• All Local Authorities have progressed their Local Area EV charging networks, with 26 pilots in development while strategies are being finalised.
• We successfully delivered on the Climate Action & Sustainable Mobility Public Engagement Strategy 2024–2025, completing many of its assigned actions and making significant progress on the remainder, reflecting a strong commitment to climate engagement in the sector. Notable milestones included commencing the rollout of a series of Public Engagement Pilot Initiatives, including their detailed evaluation.
Maritime
• Progress was made on the Net Zero Framework for Shipping and the Northeast Atlantic Emissions Control Area at the International Maritime Organisation.
• We undertook the renewal of MSO ISO 9001 certification of Quality Management System to include maritime education and training.
• Following the enactment of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 in April 2025, preparations are underway to establish a Marine Accident Investigation Unit within the Department of Transport and dissolve the Marine Casualty Investigation Board in the coming weeks. This marks a key Programme for Government commitment and strengthens Ireland’s marine accident investigation framework.
• Publication of Guidance on Safety of Navigation and Emergency Response for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations.
• Election of Ireland to the new International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) Council, which took place during the inter-governmental organisation's inaugural General Assembly in Singapore on February 20, 2025.
Irish Coast Guard
• Publication of the Maritime Navigation Safety Guidance for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREI) and the Guidance for Search & Rescue and Emergency Response for OREI (Standard Operating Procedure 07-2025).
• The completion and publication of the National Search and Rescue Annual Report for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
• The commencement of a full review of the National Search and Rescue plan following Ministerial decision.
• Hosting and facilitating the 6th Place of Refuge tabletop exercise co-organised with European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Commission in October 2025. It was attended by participants and observers from Ireland, EU Member States, neighbouring regions and industry experts.
• We continued to manage the transition process for the new Coast Guard Aviation Service Contract with two bases now fully transitioned. The transition process will be completed during Q1 2026, at which point all four bases will have transitioned.
• We successfully defended two legal challenges to the outcome of the procurement process for the new Coast Guard Aviation Service.
Road Transport Services
• The current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. During 2025 my Department took full ownership of the formulation of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy. A key action completed by my Department was the publication of the Phase 2 Action Plan in July this year which will contribute to Ireland achieving its goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030 and putting the country on track to achieve Vision Zero. This Action Plan, which will run to the end of 2027, includes 12 primary actions with the potential for transformative road safety impacts in the coming years. These 12 primary actions are further supplemented by 77 supporting actions to be delivered by a wide range of sectoral stakeholders and partners. My Department is leading on the implementation of the Action Plan and will continue to provide leadership and to work with all road safety stakeholders to ensure that the Plan is implemented in full.
• Finalised negotiation of the EU Driving Licence and Disqualification Directive, including successful inclusion of key amendments in Ireland’s favour in Directives text.
• Coordinated Ireland’s position in relation to EU Directives at Council level including the Weights & Dimensions Directive and 3 EU Roadworthiness Package Directives.
• I signed Multiple Learner Permits Regulations (S.I. No. 527 of 2025), which sets out that learner drivers can no longer repeatedly renew their learner permits without sitting or attempting to sit a driving test.
• I also signed both the Signs Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 433 of 2025) & the Traffic and Parking Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 473 of 2025) which provide a statutory basis to certain updates within the Traffic Signs Manual (TSM).
• Introduction of the Disabled Parking Fraudulent Application Offence, which allows for prosecution which in turn may lead to receipt of a fine of up to €2,500 and/or up to 6 months in prison
• A report considering the availability and use of Hydro Treated Vegetable Oil in the Heavy Goods Vehicles sector was published on gov.ie in November.
• Four meetings of the Road Freight Forum were held along with a wider Road Haulage Strategy stakeholder session.
• The annual NORDUK meeting was held in Dublin in September. Delegates from the UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands attended.
• Road Transport (Operator’s Licence Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and Road Transport Operator Licensing (Fees) Regulations 2025 to facilitate the new Road Transport Operator Licensing IT system that went live on 10 November 2025.
• The third Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Week was successfully held from Monday 31 March to Saturday 5 April. This week-long initiative highlights career and educational opportunities across the logistics and supply chain sector. It included various events held both in-person and virtually across the country, including the second LogisTYcs Skills Expo, which is specifically designed for second-level students.
Transport Investment and Public Transport Policy
• Significant progress has been made on advancing MetroLink in 2025, with the National Development Plan Review, published in July by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, allocating €2 billion in funding from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the development of MetroLink.
• A series of market engagement events relating to MetroLink were held across Europe from September, and An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning approval for the project on 30th September. The Government also approved the establishment of a new dedicated delivery body to oversee the delivery of the project in November. These developments have generated significant momentum which will support the MetroLink project as it moves from planning and into construction.
• The Department of Transport has committed to significant investment in Public Transport over the period to 2030. The Review of the National Development Plan allocated €22.3 billion in Exchequer resources to Transport from 2026 to 2030.
• The funding of circa €10 billion for general public transport infrastructure, plus the previously mentioned €2 billion for MetroLInk from the Fund, is allocated primarily in line with the Department’s NIFTI (National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland) intervention hierarchy of Maintain, Optimise, Improve and New. This approach involves prioritising investment in the protection and renewal of existing assets before investing in new ones, on economic and environmental grounds. Key programmes that are funded include DART+ in Dublin and BusConnects in our cities.
• Another area of significant progress during the year has been BusConnects. In October the Government approved the Preliminary Business Case for BusConnects Cork which will allow the lodgement of planning applications next year.
• In Dublin, the first of the BusConnects Dublin 12 Core Bus Corridors (CBCs), which have all received planning approval, will commence construction this month, with the construction of the Liffey Valley CBC. Government also approved the construction of the Ballymun/Finglas CBC in November, which will enter construction next year.
• I signed regulations and enacted protocols extending the Interbus Agreement between the EU and third countries, to ensure the continuation of cross-border bus services in a post-Brexit environment.
Corporate Affairs and Central Policy
• Governance and Risk Unit – An enhanced Risk Management Framework was developed to further strengthen the Department’s overall risk management practices, risk culture and the transition to a more strategic, enterprise risk management approach.
• Agency Governance - Implemented the recommendations of the Senior Pay Remuneration Committee’s (SPRC) review regarding CEO pay in commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department.
Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 • Following the formation of the Government in January 2025, the Department developed and published its Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 in September 2025. Reflecting the Programme for Government commitments, the Statement of Strategy Implementation Plan 2025 – 2028 was also published.
Active Travel and Greenways
• Delivered approximately 200km of new or upgraded walking and cycling infrastructure.
• Official openings of the Carlingford Lough Greenway, Rathkeale Trailhead, Ballycommon Trailhead, two sections of the Royal Canal Greenway, Bray DART interchange, and active travel projects on Battery Road and the N71 at Bandon and Clonakilty.
• Safe Routes to School projects completed in 40 schools
• CycleRight training provided to 43,000 pupils
Strategic Research and Analysis
• Published the “Transport Appraisal Framework Module 11 – Programme Guidance”
• Published “The Economic Cost of Congestion in the Regional Cities 2022-2040” (action from NIFTI) report
• Continued to host quarterly meetings of the Sustainable Mobility Policy Research Network
Roads Division
National Roads
• €633 million in exchequer funding was allocated for investment in the national road network in early 2025. This funding has been used to progress a range of projects across the network.
• A number of new national road projects have been progressed over the course of 2025. Construction of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge project continued to progress. This project, when complete, will greatly enhance regional accessibility in Mayo and Roscommon and will also deliver a safer N5 for all road users.
• In February, the main construction contract for the Adare Bypass was signed, with the contract for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy upgrade being signed in May. Construction on both projects is underway and progressing well.
• Other projects at an earlier stage in the development lifecycle have been further advanced through the design and planning processes.
• Throughout the year, much work has taken place on the protection and renewal of the existing national road network. This work includes pavement renewal, winter maintenance, safety improvements and junction upgrades, and the variety of day-to-day maintenance tasks that ensure the network is protected for all road users.
Regional and Local Roads
• At the start of 2025, €713 million was allocated for investment in the regional and local road network, with about 90% directed to road maintenance and renewal and the balance for targeted road improvement schemes. This investment will see approximately 5,200kms of pavement rehabilitation and maintenance across the country.
• In addition, as part of the National Development Plan, eight NDP projects have been completed to date including the Shannon Crossing, Killaloe Bypass and R494 Upgrade which opened in May 2025, the Athy Southern Distributor Road, Sallins Bypass and the Sligo Western Distributor Road along with the Laytown to Bettystown Link Road.
• A further three projects are at construction stage, namely the R498 Latteragh Upgrade in County Tipperary, the Tralee Northern Relief Road in County Kerry and Coonagh Knockalisheen Distributor Road in Limerick city.
• A range of regional and local road minor/safety improvement schemes, bridge rehabilitation schemes and climate adaptation projects are also being implemented under the roads works programme.
• My Department, in association with local authorities and agencies, implemented phase one of the speed limit review and a reduction in rural local road speed limits from 80km/hr to 60km/hr on February 7th 2025. This change affected approximately 80% of the network and is a positive step in the Government policy of vision zero.
• I also directed local authorities to review existing speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas. Local authorities will, where appropriate, implement lower speed limits including the introduction of 30 km/h speed limits, such as in roads in cities and towns.