Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
608. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the policies in place to promote the commuter uptake of sustainable shared mobility solutions, including public bike-share schemes, car-share services and taxi journeys linked to public transport use; whether any new proposals have been considered in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63852/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra609. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the locations affected by the reported pause in the shared mobility hubs pilot programme; whether the approved pilots in five locations nationwide remain Government policy; the status of each pilot; and the revised timelines for implementation. [63851/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra610. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the extent of the reported pause in the shared mobility hubs pilot programme; whether the review applies to the wider pilot scheme rather than solely to public e-scooter elements; if so, the rationale for pausing or reviewing the broader programme where the concerns cited by Government relate specifically to public e-scooters; whether consideration has been given to allowing the bike-sharing, e-bike, cargo-bike and electric vehicle elements of the pilot to proceed independently of any e-scooter component; and if he will make a statement on the matter [63849/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 608, 609 and 610 together.
The Government remains fully committed to supporting shared mobility as part of its wider objective of providing sustainable transport options for communities across Ireland. Shared mobility services, including shared bicycles and other micromobility options, can play an important role in improving first-mile and last-mile connections to public transport, reducing car dependency and supporting climate action goals.
This commitment is reflected in the National Policy Statement on Shared Mobility and the Provision of Mobility Hubs and in the actions contained within the National Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan. Mobility hubs are intended to support a range of sustainable transport modes and services, including public transport, active travel and shared mobility options, and are not solely focused on any single transport mode.
The Mobility Hubs Pilot Programme was originally designed to test a dense network of mobility hubs across five locations using a range of shared mobility services and micromobility modes. The pilot is being funded through the Climate Action Fund and includes a requirement to evaluate the climate impacts of the project and the effectiveness of different shared mobility interventions in changing travel behaviour and reducing transport emissions.
The five locations included in the pilot programme are Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Cork City, Carlow Town, Dundalk and Sligo Town. These locations were selected to test the operation of mobility hubs in a variety of urban settings and to generate evidence to support future policy development.
The National Transport Authority submitted the Detailed Business Case for the programme to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment in April 2026. Since then, the Government has announced a strengthened regulatory framework for e-scooters in response to road safety concerns.
As e-scooters formed part of the original concept, evaluation framework and expected outcomes of the Mobility Hubs Pilot Programme, their removal requires a re-evaluation of both the Detailed Business Case and the underlying objectives of the pilot. This is particularly important given the Climate Action Fund requirement to assess the climate impacts of the project against its original design and intended outcomes. Accordingly, the current review extends beyond the e-scooter element alone and considers the implications for the overall pilot programme. Any decisions regarding the final design, scope, delivery arrangements or timelines for individual locations for the pilot programme will be informed by the outcome of the current review process.
More broadly, the Government continues to support the uptake of sustainable shared mobility options as part of its wider sustainable transport and climate objectives. My Department and the National Transport Authority continue to explore opportunities to promote services such as public bike-share, car-sharing and other shared mobility solutions that complement public transport. In addition, the National Transport Authority is progressing the replacement of the existing TFI Bikes schemes in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford with new regional shared micromobility schemes, which will provide expanded geographical coverage and a greater proportion of e-bikes, making these services more attractive and accessible for everyday travel.
