Departmental Bodies

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Questions (377)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

377. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of all active interdepartmental, interagency, and department-agency working groups organised under his remit. [10164/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

Deputy, Please see a tabulated list below of all active interdepartmental, interagency, and department-agency working groups organised under the remit of my Department.

Group Name	Type (Interdepartmental, Interagency or Department-Agency)	Member Organisations	Purpose
MetroLink Working Group	Department-Agency	DoT, TII, NTA	To identify and consider practical and legislative issues of establishing the new MetroLink delivery body.
National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) and subcommittees.	Interdepartmental and Agency	DFAT, DoJ, DoD, Revenue, An Garda Síochána, Defence Forces, An Post, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, daa, Shannon, regional airport operators and IAA as advisor.	To advise the Government and the civil aviation industry on aviation security policy.
National UAS Policy Framework Monitoring Group	Interdepartmental and Agency	DoT, DCEE, DoD, DCCS, DoJ, DETE, DHLGH, IAA, LGMA	To monitor the implementation of the actions related to the National Policy Framework for UAS
National Air Transport Facilitation Committee	Interdepartmental and agency	DFAT, DoJ, BMU, GNIB, D/Health, D/Agriculture, Revenue, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, daa, Shannon, regional airport operators and IAA	To review Air Transport Facilitation practices in the Irish Aviation sphere
State Safety Programme Coordination Committee	Agency	Irish Aviation Authority	To monitor and implement the State Safety Programme. The Committee provides a platform for review of key issues affecting risk and performance in civil aviation and for co-ordination between the main State agencies on key decisions affecting civil aviation policy.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, DCEE, DETE, DFIN, DAFM, IAA, NORA, ISIF, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and industry (airports, airlines, academia and representative bodies)	To help guide policy development in the area of sustainable aviation fuel and assist in the development of Irelands SAF Policy Roadmap.
Article 60 School Transport Licence Policy Review Working Group	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, Dept of Education & Youth, An Garda Síochána & Bus Éireann	The working group was convened as part of the Article 60 School Transport Licence Policy Review, which seeks to modernise the Article 60 licensing regime. More info here - [https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/consultations/article-60-school-transport-licence-policy-review/]
Steering Group: School Transport and Public Transport Integration Pilot	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, DoE, Bus Éireann, NTA	The steering group was convened to design and implement pilot project(s) for the 2024/25 school year to demonstrate the opportunities for better integration between school and public transport services.
Public Transport Workforce Taskforce	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, Transport operators and agencies, and training bodies.	To progress the PfG commitment to "enhance and support the delivery of a skilled workforce to maintain and operate public transport vehicles". nics/craftworkers.
Leadership Group	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, DHLGH, Regional Assemblies, TII, NTA, RSA, SEAI,	The Leadership Group, chaired by DoT, oversees the implementation of the Sustainable Mobility Policy and its accompanying Action Plan
Delivery Team	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, Regional Assemblies, NTA, TII, SEAI, DHLGH, Local Authorities	The delivery team interrogates the delivery of the SMP and previously the Pathfinder Programme at a more granular level.
Demand Management Steering Group	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, CCMA, DETE, DCEE,DEY, DHLGH, Dept. of the Taoiseach, EMRA, NTA, NEWRA, SRA, TII, SYSTRA Ltd, DPER, DRCDG, DCCS, LGMA, DFHERIS	Steering Group established to guide the development of the Moving Together Strategy.
DoT/DoF Interdepartmental Working Group	Interdepartmental	DoT, DoF - Invitations to present or collaborate are occasionally extended to other departments or agencies.	To progress Recommendation 2 of the draft Moving Together strategy which commits to establishing a pathway for the development of a cohesive, equitable and future proofed taxation approach on transport.
UTRAP Working Group	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DCEE, DoT, DoF, DoH, DPER, NTA, TII, EPA, Local Authorities, BÉ, Dublin Bus, Dublin Climate Action and Regional Office, RSA, Dublin Port, DAA	Group established to address rising concerns about the level of transport-generated ambient air pollution in certain areas
Mobility Hub Advisory Group	Interdepartmental and Department-Agency	DoT, AECOM, SEAI, ESRI, Local Authorities, NTA	Working group established to oversee the development of the mobility hubs pilot project
Transport Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP) Steering Group	Intra Departmental, with one annual meeting, a ‘forum’, to extend to broader stakeholders including other Department representatives or agencies, and members of the TSAP Planning Group (below)	Department of Transport – various Divisions (those tasked with actions under the SAP)	Governance oversight, evaluation and review of the Transport SAP, raising visibility and coordination of policy and action for transport climate adaptation.
Transport SAP Planning Group	Dept/agencies/commercial public transport organisations	Department of Transport National and Regional Airport operators, Ports (Tier 1 & 2) operators, Public Transport operators, Agencies with Transport remit- TII and NTA	Coordinating, monitoring and reporting on progress of implementation of actions in the Transport SAP
Biofuel Sustainability Working Group	Interdepartmental	D/Transport, DCEE, DAFM, Revenue, D/Finance, NORA	Established in 2023 to progress a high-level vulnerability assessment of current and projected future biofuel supply in Ireland, with a view to identifying the scope for risk of biofuel fraud (leading to high indirect land use change risk) and other indirect impacts and to make recommendations concerning improvements
Alternative Fuel for Transport Working Group	Interdepartmental-Agency	D/Transport, DCEE, DAFM, DETE, D/Finance, NORA, TII, SEAI, NSAI, GNI	Established in 2023 with the purpose of: -facilitating greater visibility on policy development and delivery across the transport and energy sectors in relation to the development of alternative fuels in transport, - co-ordinating a variety of ongoing actions concerning alternative fuel infrastructure and renewable energy across the transport sub-sectors, land, aviation and maritime, and - alignment with decarbonisation objectives and related energy policy by other Government departments and sectors, including the Hydrogen Strategy, the Biomethane Strategy, and Industrial Policy for Offshore Renewable Energy Production
RES-T Working Group – Supporting compliance with the NECP	Interdepartmental-Agency	D/Transport, DCEE, NORA, SEAI, EPA	The Working Group was established in 2023 to address continued positive contribution of renewable energy supply in the transport sector and to the National Energy and Climate Plan targets and the challenges of revised 2030 targets for renewable energy share in transport (RES-T), specifically advanced renewable fuel, renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and renewable electricity in future road, aviation, and maritime consumption.
National Aeromedical Coordination Group (NACG)	Interdepartmental and Agency	Dept. of Transport Dept. of Health NAS HSE CHI PHECC Air Corps An Garda Síochána Dept. of Defence SAR Aviation Contractor	Coordinate arrangements for emergency paediatric transfers abroad.
Sustainable Mobility Policy Research Network	Department-Agency	DoT, NTA, TII, SEAI, RSA, CIÉ, CSO, Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), Irish Transport Research Network (ITRN)	To advise on, coordinate, and focus resources towards research priorities which provide an evidence base for implementation of the Sustainable Mobility Policy, drawing on national and international best practice.
Transport Appraisal Framework Coordination and Advisory Group	Department-Agency	DoT, NTA, TII	The Transport Appraisal Framework provides appraisal guidance for capital investment schemes in the transport sector. The Coordination and Advisory group brings together the key users of the TAF to share information and discuss future developments in appraisal guidance.
Road Freight Forum (RFF)	Interdepartmental and Agency	DoT, IRHA, FTAI, TII, RSA, NTA, Irish Transport Research Network	To track and the implementation of the actions arising in the Road Haulage Strategy (RHS) 2022-2031
Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Group (LSCSG)	Interdepartmental and Agency	DoT, DETE, DSP, CILT, FTAI, Ibec, Innopharma Education, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, IPICS, IEA, IIFA, IRHA, Mid-West Regional Skills Group, NMCI, SIPTU, SETU, TUD, UL, Grove Institute, PerformanSC	Bring together key stakeholder from the logistics and supply chain industry, such as relevant Government departments and agencies, as-well as industry representatives to support the promotion of careers, skills development and sustainable employment in the industry.
Road Safety Leadership Group	Interdepartmental/interagency Group	Department of Transport, Department of Justice, AGS, RSA, NTA, TII, MBRS,HSA, Courts Service, CCMA	The Governments Road Safety Strategy 2021- 2030
Road User Safety Forum	Advisory Forum on Road Safety. Meetings facilitated by DoT	Representatives comprising road safety advocates and experts, including representatives of vulnerable road users.	Meetings of the Forum are facilitated by the Department of Transport. The Forum advises on the implementation of the Road Safety Phase 2 Action Plan and emerging road safety concerns.
Road Safety Communications Group	Interdepartmental/interagency Group	DoT, DoJ, AGS, RSA	Road Safety messaging and campaigns
ORE Ports Coordination Group	Interdepartmental/interagency Group	DoT, DCEE, IMDO, Ports	The group was set up following the publication of DoT’s policy statement on the facilitation of offshore wind by ports in Ireland.
Public Transport Safety Working Group	Interdepartmental/Interagency	DoT, DoJ, NTA, AGS, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Go-Ahead Ireland, CTTC, SIPTU, NBRU, ICTU, TSSA, Dublin Commuter Coalition, Cork Commuter Coalition	This Working Group was established in 2024 following calls for a public transport ‘Safety Charter’. It has since expanded to safety discussion on PT safety policy, including the Transport Security Force.
Public Service Obligation Oversight Group (PSOG)	Department-Agency	DoT, NTA, NewERA, DPER	The Group was established in 2026 to strengthen governance, monitor costs, and ensure value for money for the PSO Programme.
EV Planning Working Group	Interdepartmental and Agency	DoT, Dept. Justice, Dept. Housing, ESBN, SEAI	Support any necessary adaptation of Ireland’s critical transport infrastructure and services in response to our changing climate.

Glossary of terms

AGS - An Garda Síochána

BÉ – Bus Éireann

CCMA – County and City Management Association

CHI – Children’s Health Ireland

CIÉ – Córas Iompair Éireann

CILT – Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

CTTC – Couch Tourism and Transport Council

DAFM – Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

DCCS – Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

DCEE – Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

DETE - Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

DEY – Department of Education and Youth

DFAT – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

DFHERIS - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

DFIN - Department of Finance

DHLGH – Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

DOD – Department of Defence

DOE - Department of Education

DOH - Department of Health

DOJ – Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

DOT - Department of Transport

DPER – Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation

DRCDG – Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

DSP – Department of Social Protection

EMRA – Eastern and Midlands Regional Authority

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

ESBN – ESB Networks

FTAI – Freight Transport Association Ireland

GNI – Gas Networks Ireland

HSA – Health and Safety Authority

HSE – Health Service Executive

IAA – Irish Aviation Authority

ICTU – Irish Congress of Trade Unions

IIFA – Irish International Freight Association

IMDO – Irish Maritime Development Office

IPICS – Irish Supply Chain Management Institute

IRHA – Irish Road Hauliers Association

ISIF – Irish Strategic Investment Fund

LGMA – Local Government Management Agency

MBRS – Medical Bureau of Road Safety

NAS – National Ambulance Service

NBRU – National Bus and Rail Union

NEWRA – Northern and Western Regional Assembly

NMCI – National Maritime College of Ireland

NORA - National Oil Reserve Agency

NSAI – National Standards Authority of Ireland

NTA – The National Transport Authority

PHECC – Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council

RSA – Road Safety Authority

SEAI – Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland

SETU – South East Technological University

SIPTU – Services, Industrial Professional and Technical Union

SRA - Southern Regional Assembly

TII – Transport Infrastructure Ireland

TSSA – Transport Salaried Staff Association

TUD – Technical University Dublin

UL – University of Limerick