Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
637. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the progress made by the end of 2025 in achieving the following three 2030 sustainable mobility targets, outlined in the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, a 50% increase in daily active travel journeys, a 130% increase in daily public transport journeys and a 20% reduction in total vehicle kilometres travelled by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra638. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when the next Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1048/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together.
Progress towards sustainable mobility targets is monitored through a range of data sources, including the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), the CSO National Travel Survey, National Transport Authority (NTA) bus and rail statistics, Public Service Obligation (PSO) journey figures, and traffic counts on the national road network.
In relation to active travel, the most effective measure of progress is mode share. It has been calculated that a mode share of 28% will be required by 2030 to achieve the 50% increase in daily active travel journeys. The NHTS showed that the relevant mode share in 2024 was 20%, and figures for 2025 are awaited.
PSO journeys have continued to grow steadily since last reported, with figures to the end of 2024 showing an increase of 23.69% compared to 2018 (excluding commercial operators). A significant milestone was reached in October 2024 when PSO services recorded one million journeys in a single day. It is too early in 2026 to provide a full report on 2025 usage; however, interim data indicates significant additional growth. For example, Dublin Bus recorded 164 million journeys in 2025, an increase of 5 million on 2024 and the highest annual total on record.
Connecting Ireland is another strong example of progress, delivering exponential growth in rural transport since its launch in 2022. Over 180 new and enhanced services have been introduced, resulting in almost 8 million passenger journeys in 2024. Where Connecting Ireland services have been implemented, patronage rose by 38% from 2023 to 2024 and is up by 165% compared to early 2019.
Once full results are available for 2025, I would be happy to provide a comprehensive update to the Deputy at that time.
With regard to vehicle kilometres, the target seeks to achieve a 20% reduction in total vehicle kilometres travelled relative to a Business-As-Usual projected scenario for 2030. Latest figures available form the CSO - to the end of 2023 - show that vehicle kilometres were 11.63% below the projected Business-As-Usual reference scenario for 2030, compared to 10.81% below in 2022. This downward trend, despite population growth, is a positive indication that efforts to reduce vehicle kilometres are beginning to take effect. The CSO advise that updated data for 2024 will be available shortly.
A detailed breakdown of progress across all actions in the SMP Action Plan 2022-2025, which have collectively contributed to recent progress, is included in the published National Sustainable Mobility Policy Year Three Progress Report: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/publications/national-sustainable-mobility-policy-year-three-progress-report/
My Department has been working on a successor to this existing SMP Plan to cover the period 2026–2030. To inform its development, extensive stakeholder engagement took place in 2025, most prominently through a series of National Sustainable Mobility Forum events which were held in May. The insights gathered from these events are captured in a published report - [www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/publications/national-sustainable-mobility-forum-may-2025/].
Taking account of the recently published Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, outlining the key projects to be delivered between 2026 and 2030, the SMP Action Plan is now being finalised and will be published in the coming months, thus fulfilling another commitment in the 2025 Programme for Government.
