Peadar Tóibín
Question:258. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport his plans for congestion charge legislation given that Dublin City Council has now rejected their use in the capital. [2973/26]
View answerThursday, 15 January 2026
Questions (258)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I have no plans to legislate for congestion charging. While I accept that congestion charging has been deployed to good effect in other jurisdictions, my view is that a multi-faceted approach is needed to address congestion, having regard to both supply and demand. In relation to the ‘supply’ of sustainable alternatives such as public transport infrastructure and services, and for shorter journeys, active travel infrastructure, and shared mobility options, this Government is investing in a significant number of transformative projects over the next five years. Approximately €10.1 billion will be invested in public transport infrastructure from 2026 to 2030, with a further €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to commence works on MetroLink.
This investment package marks a major increase in public transport capital funding, more than double the level seen in the previous five years. In Dublin, significant projects will help to tackle congestion by making public transport more accessible, reliable, and affordable. These include the commencement of construction on the DART+ Programme to Maynooth and M3 Parkway; the purchase of new DART carriages; construction works for the extension of the Luas to Finglas, investment in the national rail system; and progression of BusConnects including the construction of multiple Core Bus Corridors in Dublin – in addition to construction commencing on MetroLink. Investment is also taking place on our road network, with the progression of bus priority measures on radial routes such as the M4 and M11/N11, which will improve the reliability of commuter bus services.
A core priority of the Programme for Government is encouraging a shift from private cars to public transport, as reflected in Budget 2026. This year, €940 million has been allocated to delivering public transport services – a 43% uplift compared with the allocation for 2025. This reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport services can continue to operate reliably and sustainably in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs. Crucially, this allocation also allows for the continued delivery of targeted fare initiatives, including the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9, and the Young Adult Card for those aged 19-25, as part of the NTA’s National Fares Strategy. By shifting more people to public transport, we can help to mitigate the impacts of congestion, with better outcomes for those accessing or moving around Dublin City.
As well as investment in infrastructure and services, there will be a need to manage overall transport ‘demand’ and to encourage an incremental behavioural shift towards more sustainable modes, especially where feasible alternatives are already available or are being delivered as above. Within this context, I hope to publish a new strategy, Moving Together, in early 2026. Moving Together will examine ways to reinforce the benefits of the Government’s investment and embed greater efficiency into the transport system through collaboration and cultural change, thus helping to further mitigate congestion over the longer-term.