Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
111. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the measures being taken to ease commuter traffic on the M7 from Carlow-Kilkenny to Dublin return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15493/26]
View answerCongestion on the national road network is a serious matter. Traffic congestion has impacts on the economy, but there are also widely acknowledged personal costs and frustrations to road users as a result of the time they spend in slow-moving or stalled traffic.
The Department has published several reports in recent years on the Economic Cost of Congestion in the Greater Dublin Area and in the regional cities. These reports examine the key factors driving congestion and provide projections of how annual economic costs are likely to evolve over the period 2022 - 2040.
Encouraging a shift from private cars to public transport, by providing attractive alternatives to driving, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The funding provided in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport will see significant advancements in public transport projects across Ireland, which will help tackle congestion by making public transport more accessible, reliable, and affordable.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) plays a central role in achieving this, as they have statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The NTA, in conjunction with transport operators, continuously monitors key performance indicators, including punctuality, reliability, demand, and passenger feedback. Where necessary and feasible, routes and timetables are adjusted to help address issues like congestion and improve service performance. The 2026 PSO funding allocation of €940 million represents a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from 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 will also allow 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. These measures help ensure effective and high-quality public transport service provision.
The department is finalising a new transport strategy called ‘Moving Together - A Collaborative Approach to Systems Change in Transport (2026-2030)’. The aim of this strategy is to help manage transport demand, and congestion, and to support and reinforce the objectives of other policies including the Sustainable Mobility Policy.
The Strategy, which is currently in draft form is a call for collective action across Government and society not only to help reduce carbon emissions over the medium to long term but to help address the more immediate issues of congestion, and air quality – arising from private traffic as well as freight movements. The Strategy, which is expected to be brought to Government in the coming weeks will also unlock the full potential of the Government’s investment in sustainable mobility options by prioritising these modes in urban centres, which is in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.
In addition, the Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) and its accompanying SMP Action Plan 2022-2025, which were published in April 2022, seek to generate behavioural change via a wide range of interventions including public transport infrastructure and services, active travel promotion and supports, road safety initiatives, legislative measures, research, public engagement, and others.
Work to implement the SMP and existing Action Plan is ongoing, while the Department is also in finalising a new Action Plan to cover the period from 2026 to 2030 in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government. This will set out measures to improve sustainable transport options across the country, complementing the actions set out in Moving Together and helping to manage transport demand and reduce transport congestion.
From a daily traffic management perspective, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), through its contractors, provides a peak hour recovery service on the M50 and sections of the radial routes that connect to it, such as the M7.
Where incidents such as collisions require the presence of the emergency services, TII implements the necessary traffic management measures. In addition, TII provides information to commuters through electronic signage and their dedicated traffic website.
Taken together, I am confident that the medium to long-term investment and service delivery plans, combined with effective daily management of key transport corridors such as the M7 will lead to an effective reduction in the impact of congestion.
