Research and Innovation background
- National Sustainable Mobility Policy: Core national strategy including delivering at least 500,000 additional daily active travel and public transport journeys by 2030 and a 10% reduction in the number of kilometres driven by fossil fuelled cars.
- Moving Together: A collaborative approach to systems change in transport (2026-2030): Transport strategy focusing on reducing congestion, tackling urban transport emissions and supporting innovation in mobility solutions through cross-sector collaboration.
- Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan:Plan to improve rural public transport by expanding and redesigning bus and transport services, enhancing connectivity between villages, towns and regional centres and helping to reduce rural isolation and support more sustainable mobility outside cities.
- National roads 2040: A long-term strategy for planning and maintaining the national roads network incorporating digital traffic management, safety innovation and network resilience.
- Climate Action Plan 2019: A high-level strategy setting out the climate goals of many other transport-oriented strategies such as the Draft National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026-2028, which is currently under consultation.
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)
Institutional framework of transport research
- Department of Transport: Responsible for developing and implementing transport policy including innovation initiatives in sustainable mobility and transport decarbonisation.
- National Transport Authority (NTA):National authority responsible for implementation of transport innovation initiatives and responsible for developing, managing, and implementing transport strategies across the country.
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII): State agency managing road network innovation, traffic management technologies and light rail infrastructure development.
- Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland: A government coordination office under Ireland’s Department of Transport that leads the country’s transition to electric and zero-emission vehicles.
- Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI): National mobility innovation testbed providing research infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, connected mobility, electric transport and advanced air mobility technologies.
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)
Funding Sources and Support Initiatives
- Disruptive Technologies Innovation Programme: €500m fund that is part of the government’s National Development Plan and administered by Enterprise Ireland. Supports industry-led collaborative research projects which address major challenges such as energy, climate and sustainability. i
(Last updated: 18/05/2026)