Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
159. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the one new action and 13 legacy actions due, as outlined in the Q1 2025 progress report (details supplied); to outline which actions they are; the reason for the delay; the state of the progress to date; and a timeline for completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72970/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question. Following the publication of the Q1 Progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2025, 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 and the launch of the TFI bike scheme.
The information requested has been collated in tabular form below.
|
CAP 25 Action Number |
Action |
Status |
Description |
|
TR/25/2 |
ESRI Framework on Behavioural Research for Sustainable Mobility and Climate Action in Transport |
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). |
|
Legacy Action Number |
Actions |
Status |
Reason for delay & progress to date |
|
TR/24/17(TF) |
Development and publication of Policy Statement on Mobility Hubs |
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 |
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 |
Completed in Q1 2025 |
Sports Club Shared Island Scheme – this scheme has been brought to delivery phase in Q4 2025. A framework has been established from which eligible sports clubs can tender for approved contractors to install the agreed EV charging facilities in the sports club grounds. Almost 70 clubs have applied to draw down funding by end 2025, with the remaining clubs engaging with the approved contractors and anticipated to apply for funding draw down in 2026. |
|
TR/24/3 |
Supporting fuel technology improvement in transport through a dedicated working group on alternative fuels in transport. |
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/24/6 |
Enhanced rail connectivity to ports – rehabilitation of Shannon-Foynes freight line |
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/24/22 |
Roll out of key elements of EV Infrastructure Strategy |
Delayed |
1. Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. Status – Delivered. The final version of the plan was published in April 2025. www.zevi.ie/regional-and-local-ev-charging-network-plan
2. En-route Scheme Launched and funding awarded for up to 170 high powered chargers on the motorway network. Status: Delivered. LDV1 En-route Scheme was launched, and grants awarded for en-route charging infrastructure in 2024. This is ongoing with grid connection offers currently being progressed for 8 of the initial sites and applications being processed for the remaining sites.
3. En-route scheme launched for up to 200 chargers on the single carriage Network. Status: Delivered. LDV 2 Scheme was launched in October 2024 focusing on 1200km of National Single Carriageway roads. Scheme is now closed and applications awarded. Enroute Scheme LDV 3 is ongoing as of Sept 2025 with applications being assessed at present. The scheme offers the opportunity for 100KW charge points every 30KM on National primary and secondary roads.
4. Local Authority (LA) Infrastructure strategies are completed and published with roll out provided for LAs ready to go in 2025. Status: Delayed. All LAs have commenced their EV Infrastructure strategies with ongoing finalisation of remaining outstanding strategies |
|
TR/24/24 |
Implement the measures in the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 |
Delayed |
Increases in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rates are set out in the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy and are enacted annually by statutory instrument under the European Communities Act 1972 (previously by Ministerial Order under S44D of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007). The European Union (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 665 of 2024) gave effect to these rates from 1st January 2025.
DoT continues to work with the OPC on the transposition of the transport provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive via amendments to the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 and related secondary legislation, which is at a very advanced stage. Work is ongoing, with a view to legislation coming into effect on 1 January 2026. |
|
TR/24/25 |
Re-evaluation of the policy framework for the decarbonisation of ports as part of the overall review of National Ports Policy |
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, prepared by the Irish Maritime Development Office on port capacity options post-2040, is under consideration by the Department of Transport. |
|
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 |
Delayed |
During the first half of 2025, a new youth-oriented, digital-first phase of the Your Journey Counts campaign was developed. This concentrated on social media, showcasing the climate-related benefits of public transport and active travel using short form video content and influencer collaborations. Two phases of the above-the-line, fully integrated campaign ran in 2025 – one in May and one in August. These comprised TV, radio, social media and digital. The August phase features prominent outdoor advertising, with increased visibility at key transport hubs, focused on reward messaging to thank passengers for their sustainable transport choices. 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 of 2024, which identified several Public Engagement Pilot Initiatives to be delivered, while also recommending that these be supported by a rigorous independent evaluation framework (for which a contract was successfully awarded in April). The detailed development and implementation of the pilots, as well as their evaluation framework, is in progress , with the start date for two pilots agreed for September 2025, and a third pilot in Q1 2026. The date for the fourth pilot is due to be agreed in Q3. Three of the pilots are expected to complete delivery by Q2 2026. To support robust long-term evidence for the agreed outcomes, the evaluation may continue until Q4 2026.
|
|
TR/24/9(TF) |
Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies – programme of review, update, appraisal |
Delayed |
The NTA considers that it is appropriate to await An Coimisiún Pleanála’s determination on the re-submitted N6 Galway City Ring Road to adequately inform the development of the draft Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. Once sufficiently developed it will be opened to full public consultation. |
|
TR/23/19 |
Publish National Demand Management Strategy |
Delayed |
A draft strategy (called ‘Moving Together’) has been developed. Following its publication as part of a public consultation process in 2024, the draft has been updated for the consideration of Government in early 2026 |
|
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 |
Delayed |
Safe Routes to School is an ongoing programme. As of end 2025, over 500 schools will be active in the Programme following the announcement of Round 4 in December. 136 schools have had projects completed as of end October 2025, including 126 from Rounds 1 and 2. The remaining schools from the first two rounds are progressing through design and construction stages. |
|
JM/24/9 |
Provide publicly accessible vehicle charge point infrastructure at community facilities in the region |
Discontinued |
The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) aims to assist the territories most affected by the transition to a climate neutral economy. In Ireland this focuses on the wider Midlands region where there have been direct impacts from the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.
Funding for EV Charging Scheme was one action of a wide range of actions managed by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) under the JTF.
The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) EV Charging Scheme, co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland, was designed to support the installation of publicly accessible fast and high-powered EV charging infrastructure at community facilities within Ireland’s Just Transition region.
In recent months, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), and the relevant Local Authorities have engaged in extensive discussions to determine the most effective structure for the scheme.
Throughout this process, a number of significant risks were identified. Following careful consideration, it became clear that these risks, particularly the risk of delays that could prevent completion within the required timeframe under the 'N+3' rule, were too substantial to be confident of successful delivery. For this scheme, that deadline was 31 December 2026. If delivery was not within the required deadline, the funds would have been lost to Ireland and the region.
To safeguard the funding for the region, the resources originally allocated to this scheme have now been be redirected to an alternative initiative. This approach ensures that the EU investment remains in place and continues to support our shared goal of advancing sustainable transport.
Where site inspections are already completed for all eligible locations, the Department will work closely with Local Authorities to explore opportunities to incorporate viable sites into regional and local strategies, ensuring that the groundwork completed to date contributes meaningfully to future plans.
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