Written Answers Nos. 640-659
640. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if clarification has been provided yet as to the amount of public charging capacity on the public charging network for the number of EVs currently registered in Ireland (as referred to on page 11 of the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1050/26]
View answerIreland is firmly committed to achieving a low-carbon economy by 2050, and the transport sector will play a pivotal role in this transition. The Climate Action Plan sets ambitious targets for the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), aiming for 30% of the private car fleet to be electric by 2030. Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector.
As this target applies exclusively to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), ongoing modelling research is focused on determining the number of BEVs required to achieve the 30% goal. To support this transition, my Department is actively promoting BEV adoption through a range of measures, including financial incentives and other supports.
As outline in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport Investment in EVs and EV infrastructure has steadily increased over the lifetime of the NDP to date, with significant investment anticipated to 2030 through both EV grant incentives to offset the price differential with ICE equivalents and investment in EV infrastructure to accelerate delivery of required charging infrastructure through leveraging private sector investment, ensuring that EV infrastructure is deployed not only in the more commercially profitable locations but also in locations across the country, establishing a network that meets citizens’ needs.
The National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy outlines the requirements for publicly accessible charging. In order to achieve Ireland’s EU targets under the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), it is expected that there will be 3,200 – 6,210 public chargers required nationally, depending on the level of power supplied at each. The majority of EV charging on the network is provided on a privately commercially funded basis, and there are several different estimates of capacity available on the national network. TII has initiated work to provide a more accurate provision of data in relation to the public EV charging network.
The government's is to be ahead of demand and deliver on the AFIR requirements and install EV Infrastructure that is capable of meeting user needs. The initial EV charging infrastructure strategy is currently being revised with a refreshed strategy for 2026-2028 to be published for consultation in the coming months.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland works closely with ESB Networks to ensure the necessary connection requirements are planned and in place to meet the increasing needs for public charging.
Additionally, significant capacity has been approved for funding through ZEVI schemes including:
LDV En-route Grant Schemes
• Under Phase 1 a total of 131 high-powered recharging points will be built across 17 recharging pools providing an additional 24,260 kilowatts (24 megawatts) recharging capacity.
• Under Phase 2 of the scheme, a total of 175 high-powered recharging points will be built across 53 recharging pools, providing an additional 20,000 kilowatts (20 Megawatts) of recharging capacity.
• Under Phase 3 a total of 192 high-powered recharging points will be built across the 90 recharging pools, providing an additional 22,000 kilowatts (20 Megawatts) of recharging capacity.
These initiatives will significantly expand high power charging availability across the national, regional and local road network, creating a more convenient and reliable system for drivers nationwide.
Local Authority Pilots
ZEVI has developed a EV charging infrastructure Pilot Programme with our Local Authorities. ZEVI aims to deliver 26 pilot projects across 15 Local Authorities. The focus for the Pilot programme is to provide charging infrastructure at locations that meet multiple user needs for Local Authority owned sites. Following the delivery of the first pilot in Westside, Galway City in 2025, roll out of all qualifying pilots to be completed in 2026.
Shared Island Sports Club Scheme
The Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme provides funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers in communities nationwide through their local sports clubs. Included in the scope of the Scheme are 227 clubs of which 179 are in Ireland and 48 in Northern Ireland. Almost 80 clubs have been approved in ROI to proceed engagement for installation with approved Charge Point Operators.
641. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Corrective Action Modelling Project that his Department is developing to correct the trajectory of carbon emissions from the transport sector out to 2030; when will this be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1051/26]
View answer642. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport to clarify the meaning of the phrase "a degree of flexibility will be necessary around the prioritization and allocation of funds until such time as this work is completed and decisions have been taken on the specific decarbonisation policy pathway to be pursued" on page 13 of the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1052/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.
It has been widely acknowledged that transport is a very difficult sector to decarbonise. The development of the Climate Action Plan 2023 developed policies intended to put the sector on a pathway to achieve an emissions reduction of 50% by 2030, in a manner that is compliant with the sectoral emission ceilings for carbon budget periods.
However, current indications are that the carbon budget 1 (2021-2025) target of 54 Mt CO2eq has been exceeded and any overshoot will therefore be deducted from the carbon budget 2 (2026-2030) target of 37MtCO2eq. Achieving that more demanding target will be challenging and with that in mind, my Department has been working closely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) over the past 12 months to deliver the CAP26 Corrective Action Modelling Project (CAMP), the aims of which are threefold:
1. Identify policies to correct the trajectory of carbon emissions from the transport sector out to 2030.
2. Identify whether any additional measures, above and beyond those required to keep the transport sector within its sectoral emissions ceilings, could be proposed to deliver currently unallocated savings for carbon budget period 2 (2026-2030)
3. Identify decarbonisation interventions and policy pathways that will continue to deliver sustained and accelerated emissions abatement beyond 2030 into Carbon Budget 3.
The CAP26 Corrective Actions Modelling Project is progressing well. The Department, in collaboration with the NTA, has developed scenarios using NTA models to test a range of policy pathways for their potential impact on carbon emissions in transport out to 2030 and beyond. The project also includes an assessment of the socio-economic impacts of such measures. The project will be completed over the coming months and will provide a vital evidence base for further iterations of the Climate Action Plan pathway for transport.
In relation to the text referenced by the Deputy on page 13 of the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, the outputs of the project will include a range of modelled policy pathway options designed to accelerate the decarbonisation of the transport sector which may need to be taken into account in the roll-out the Transport Sectoral Plan.
643. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when the 'Moving Together' strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1053/26]
View answerFollowing extensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement in 2024, the Moving Together strategy has been updated to reflect insights from that process and to reflect new policy developments and related commitments in the Programme for Government 2025. I expect to bring the updated strategy to Government in the coming weeks.
644. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the measures his Department is taking to implement intelligent transport systems technologies in a cohesive manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1054/26]
View answerIntelligent Transport Systems (ITS) refer to the application of technologies, communication and information systems to transportation, making them safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. ITS encompasses a broad range of technologies and applications, including traffic management, public transport management, and vehicle safety systems. Ultimately ITS is about technology enabled road and transport services.
The Intelligent Transport Systems Directive (Directive 2010/40/EU, as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2661) of the European Union establishes a framework for the coordinated deployment and use of intelligent transport systems across the EU to improve road safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The Directive requires EU Member States to take a common approach for compatibility and interoperability across national borders in support of a single, seamless European transport area.
My Department is currently at an advanced stage of updating the transposition and implementation of the ITS Directive, as revised in 2023, including a detailed implementation plan to accompany that transposition and a new National Access Point in line with the requirements of the Directive and its delegated regulations. Further measures will be progressed this year.
My Department is also developing a national strategy for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and is currently preparing legislation to enable deployment of Level 2+ Connected and Autonomous Vehicles on Irish roads and to progress towards the implementation of a framework for testing autonomous (Level 3 and above) vehicles on Irish roads.
Ireland's current ITS report on implementation of the ITS Directive and intelligent transport systems technologies across Ireland can be found at transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/903e83ab-e252-40dd-bbbb-7df35d67ac28_en?filename=2024_ie_its_progress_report_2023.pdf
645. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when the transport orientated development studies for Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and the eastern region respectively, will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1055/26]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Department of Transport (DoT) jointly established a working group in December 2021 under 'Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres. The group comprises membership from DHLGH, DoT, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The work undertaken by the TOD Working Group informed the Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) published in April 2025. National Planning Objectives 10, 97 and 99, combined, seek to deliver TOD at suitable locations (as identified in Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans) supported by the necessary institutional and funding arrangements to support the development and accelerated delivery. TOD is also referenced within the Governments new housing action plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030’ as an important element in meeting housing requirements.
The first report from this Working Group, which looked at TOD Opportunities in Dublin, was published on the 23 of June 2023 and can be found on the Department’s website. Further reports on opportunities in the Eastern Region, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford are being finalised and will be published shortly.
646. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the current rate of construction inflation that his Department uses to model capital costs; if his Department has forecasts for construction inflation in the years 2026 to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1056/26]
View answerTransport projects are appraised in line with my Department’s Transport Appraisal Framework (TAF). The TAF sets out the appraisal requirements expected of Approving Authorities and Sponsoring Agencies for all projects submitted to the Department for approval. The TAF notes that all inflation calculations should be based on official sources. It also states that the methodology and assumptions underpinning any calculations should be noted.
Across the three main programme areas – active travel, public transport and roads – the approach toward construction inflation is as follows –
Active Travel / Public Transport
All projects are required to use the National Transport Authority’s Inflation Bulletin (please see latest edition here: 2025 NTA Inflation Bulletin - National Transport). The Bulletin is the outcome of a forward-looking exercise undertaken by the NTA to provide Sponsoring Agencies with insights to inform inflation assumptions as part of cost estimation for projects and programmes where the NTA is the Approving Authority. The bulletin is updated annually or more frequently if warranted by changes in macroeconomic conditions.
Roads
All projects are required to use Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s ‘Cost Price Inflation’ methodology . There are three different categories used for projects - Highways (Rural), Highways (Urban) & Civil Engineering – with predicted inflation rates provided on the basis of upper, lower and base rates.
647. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when work will commence on a successor strategy to the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan 2022-26; when the successor plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1057/26]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and the implementation of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. In light of the NTA responsibilities, 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.
648. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown in number and type of the offence behind disqualification for drivers who were unmatched on the national vehicle and driver file in 2024 and 2025. [1066/26]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail, and Ports, I wish to advise that the information sought by the Deputy is not available. The data are not recorded on the National Vehicle and Driver File in the manner so as to allow for statistical breakdown by the nature of the offence.
649. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of road traffic collisions and fatal accidents that involved a disqualified driver in the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [1067/26]
View answer650. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of deaths following road traffic collisions that took place at the scene of the accident in comparison to overall fatalities in the years 2020-2025 for Northern Ireland versus Ireland. [1077/26]
View answer662. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of people who died in road traffic collisions in 2025 aged 30 years and under. [1140/26]
View answer701. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the total number of serious injury collisions in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; if the data published by the RSA for each year includes data on serious RTC casualties held by hospitals and GPs with that provided by gardaí. [1472/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 649, 650, 662 and 701 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads. The RSA receives collision data from An Garda Síochána for this purpose and produces official statistics to help develop evidence-based road safety interventions.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputies to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
651. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 2 October 2025, the number of mutual recognition (MR) cases received from both Northern Ireland and the UK each year from 2022 to 2025; the number given effect in Irish courts; the number of cases where the disqualification had expired in Northern Ireland and/or the UK before it was recognised in this jurisdiction; the number of MR cases where the summons/application was not served on the driver; the number of unsuccessful outcomes as the judge did not give effect in this jurisdiction; the number that were appealed and had expired before the appeal hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/26]
View answer682. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 on 2 October 2025, when he stated his intention to review the agreement on the mutual recognition of disqualifications between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK as set out in the Road Traffic Act 2016, if his Department has started this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1281/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 682 together.
As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that the agreement on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between Ireland and the United Kingdom is set out in the Road Traffic Act 2016.
Under section 40(10) of the Act, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the competent authority of the State and the central authority of the State for the purposes of the agreement.
Information regarding the operation of the agreement is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
It is my Department's intention to review the agreement. However, this will have to be done in conjunction with the UK, as set out in the agreement.
652. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of court notifications since 2020 that he received from the Courts Service of drivers convicted of penalty point offences; the number of these court notifications that did not include a valid driver number; the number that were manually matched by Transport to the correct driver record; the number that could not be matched to the driver; the number where a shell record was created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1130/26]
View answer670. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 177 to 184, inclusive, of 16 October 2025, No. 265 of 4 November 2025 and No. 212 of 13 November 2025 regarding his Department’s project to deep dive into the area of court offence information received without a driver number and his commitment to publishing more complete data on the matching process by the end of 2025; the reason for the delay in publishing this data and the proposed new date. [1176/26]
View answer676. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of the non-court assigned penalty points, of which there are 152,721, and non-court disqualifications in 2024 of which there are 3,052, that are foreign licence holders and non-licence holders. [1211/26]
View answer699. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of court notifications he received from the Courts Service in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, of drivers convicted of penalty points offences; the number of notifications that included a valid driver number; the number without a valid driver number; the number without a driver number that were successfully matched to the correct driver record before the three year penalty point expiry date; the number that could not be matched; and the number each year whereby a shell record was created to record the penalty point offence. [1470/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 652, 670, 676 and 699 together.
As Minister of State with responsibility for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, I wish to advise that a document on the recording of penalty points and disqualifications on driver records was published by my Department on 10 December 2025.
The purpose of this document is to outline the process for recording penalty points and disqualifications on driver records within the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database. It also includes detailed statistics, which will be updated annually and published on an ongoing basis. I expect that my Department will publish updated statistical tables for end 2025 data in the first quarter of this year.
The document is available at the following link:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/39ad7e4f/Recording_of_Penalty_Points_and_Disqualifications_on_Driver_Records.pdf
653. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if the national vehicle and driver file Bill 2025 which was due to be enacted by the end of 2025, has been drafted; the timeframe for publishing this Bill in 2026 and to introduce it to Dail Éireann for approval. [1131/26]
View answerThe General Scheme of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 has been approved by Government and is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. The provisions included in this General Scheme improve the legislative basis underpinning the National Vehicle and Driver File, remove the requirement to display a paper motor tax disc, allow for open-ended declarations of non-use of a motor vehicle, amend the Road Traffic Act 2004 to allow for a speed limit of 60 km/h on local roads within built-up areas, and amend the Roads Act 1993 to provide a basis for the direct sharing of road traffic collision data with local authorities.
On 16 December 2025, Cabinet approved the inclusion of six additional Heads for drafting. Two of the additional provisions were agreed with the Minister for Justice at the time of approving the General Scheme in April and will allow a jury to consider a charge of careless driving when a driver is acquitted of dangerous driving and allow safety camera van operators to provide certificate evidence in court.
Two additional provisions relate to the Road Traffic Act 2024. One is a technical amendment to local authority speed limit bye-law setting powers on national secondary roads and the other provides additional legislative clarity around how multiple penalty points from a single incident are to be applied to serve as a stronger deterrent to dangerous driving.
The fifth provision relates to the regulation of testing of autonomous vehicles. The final provision relates to the new CheckMyVehicle website, which will facilitate parties who might need to be assured of compliance, such as driver testers, driving instructors or car buyers, once the requirement to display a motor tax disc is removed.
The additional provisions were intended to be introduced at Committee Stage but, having now received Government approval, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel will draft the provisions alongside the existing General Scheme and expedite its enactment, which is targeted within the first half of 2026.
654. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Government's commitment in 2020 to consolidate road traffic legislation which was included in the Programme for Government; the progress made by the dedicated unit set up by his Department in 2024 to work exclusively on consolidation of road traffic Acts; the timeframe proposed to bring the heads of Bill before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and presented to Dail Éireann in 2026. [1132/26]
View answer663. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Government's commitment in 2020 to consolidate road traffic legislation which was included in the Programme for Government; the progress made by the dedicated unit set up by his Department in 2024 to work exclusively on consolidation of Road Traffic Acts; the timeframe proposed to bring the Heads of Bill before the Oireachtas Transport Committee and presented to the Dail in 2026. [1145/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 663 together.
There is general agreement that there has long been a need to consolidate Ireland’s Road Traffic Acts, which involve multiple pieces of legislation going back to 1961. In the Programme for Government, we have committed to progressing the work which was begun in the latter stages of the previous Government, when a dedicated team was set up to focus on this project.
The goal is to have a single, clearly organised, Consolidated Road Traffic Act, which will be much easier to navigate. It is also intended that in future any changes will be by amendment to this new Act rather than by putting stand-alone provisions in new Acts. In this way, there will in future be only one Road Traffic Act ‘as amended’, and we will not see a recreation of the kind of complexity which has grown up over the past 65 years.
The Department has closely examined the legal texts involved and the issues to be addressed as part of the consolidation process. This is a large and complex task. I would also like to acknowledge in particular the great assistance provided by the Law Reform Commission, whose observations and expertise on the ongoing work have been invaluable.
As I informed the Deputy in late July last, a pathway to realising the consolidation of road traffic law has been identified and at that time it was my intention to seek Government approval for the recommended approach. Consequently, I had hoped to bring the proposed approach to Government following the summer recess. However, further detailed considerations has meant that I now intend to bring my proposal forward in this quarter.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to progressing this project as quickly as possible; however, as I previously pointed out, legal issues may arise as the project progresses, and how many and how complex these legal issues may be to resolve will be the key factor impacting on the timeline for the delivery of a Consolidated Road Traffic Act.
655. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 18 November 2025, to clarify his statement that ‘the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility in relation to the endorsement of penalty points to driver records’. [1133/26]
View answerWhile responsibility in relation to the endorsement of penalty points and driver disqualifications is jointly shared by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and my Department under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Department maintains the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database, which is the State’s record of all Irish licensed drivers.
The Department’s role is to manage the database, including adding of penalty points and disqualifications to driver records based on information provided from the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána. The RSA operates the licensing process, which links to the NVDF, and the Authority also supports my Department in matching of penalty points disqualifications NVDF records, which was the specific topic being queried in Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 18 November 2025.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department is now developing alternative proposals for reform of the RSA while retaining the current overall structure of the Authority. Having considered the recommendations of the 2024 Indecon review of the RSA, Minister O’Brien and I have decided not to replace the RSA by the creation of two new entities. However, we are strongly of the view that change is still needed and that reform of the RSA remains necessary. Updated reform proposals, including in relation to administration of the penalty points system, will be informed by the findings of the Indecon review and will also take into account experience over the last year. I expect that these proposals will be brought to Government in the coming months.
658. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 177 to 184, inclusive, of 16 October 2025, No. 265 of 4 November 2025 and No. 212 of 13 November 2025, the reason for the delay in publishing this data and the proposed new date (details supplied). [1136/26]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, I wish to advise that a document on the recording of penalty points and disqualifications on driver records was published by my Department on 10 December 2025.
The purpose of this document is to outline the process for recording penalty points and disqualifications on driver records within the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database. It also includes detailed statistics, which will be updated annually and published on an ongoing basis. I expect that my Department will publish updated statistical tables for end 2025 data in the first quarter of this year.
The document is available at the following link:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/39ad7e4f/Recording_of_Penalty_Points_and_Disqualifications_on_Driver_Records.pdf
