An overview of all parties’ manifestos — with a focus on sustainable transport — can be found here.
Below are the transport-related mentions which were used to form the overview. It is provided here not as a review but as an accessible record of the transport commitments. For any formatting etc issues, please refer to the PDF version linked to (in the party name) below.
The Fianna Fáil manifesto is 196 pages. Of that, there are just over 1,600 words on transport.
Links to other pages:
| Overview with parties compared |
| Sinn Féin |
| Fine Gael |
| Social Democrats |
| Labour |
| Green Party |
| PBP |
Under the title of “A Fully Connected Island”, the party’s main transport section the following is said:
As an island nation with a dispersed population and an open economy, strong and sustainable connectivity both within the country and with the rest of the world is absolutely essential to our
economic and social progress.Throughout our history, Fianna Fáil has embraced and delivered the game-changing transport projects that underpinned our economic transformation. That spirit will continue to inform our approach.
Since 2020, we have helped deliver 100 new or enhanced public transport services, adding almost 2.5 million km to the network.
We have also dramatically reduced the cost for citizens accessing public transport.
Over the coming years, we want to make significant progress in delivering the big, strategically important rail and light rail public transport projects to support future growth.’
Fianna Fáil is committed to improving and expanding our national roads network. This
is necessary not only for connectivity and sustainable growth, but also to improve road safety for our road users. Since 2020, we have invested close to €6bn in regional and national roads.Removing the self-defeating cap on flights at Dublin Airport is a priority for Fianna Fáil. So too is increasing the capacity and improving the connectivity of our regional airports in a sustainable way.
Similarly, further sustained investment in our seaports is critical to our connectivity and to our
plans for the development of Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure. Fianna Fáil is determined to make sure that Irish ports benefit from the growth of this sector.Since 2020, we have also transformed the national walking and cycling infrastructure with the addition of hundreds of kilometres of Greenways and Blueways. We want to do more.
Developing a strategic public transport network
Since 2020, Fianna Fáil has expanded bus and rail services, and overseen a huge increase the Local Link service. Work has progressed on key public transport infrastructure projects.
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Progress key public infrastructure projects.
- Publish an evaluation of BusConnects to ensure promised benefits are achieved.
- Invest in new carriages to increase train capacity.
- Increase funding for both essential new road construction and road maintenance.
- Ensure Local Authorities develop a Ring Roads and Relief Road Strategy to alleviate urban traffic.
- Create a new Pothole Action Fund for Local Authorities and utilise advanced imaging technology to expedite repairs.
- Fund a matching road maintenance catch up programme for local authorities with poor pavement surface conditions.
- Expand local link services.
- Invest in light rail for our cities.
- Develop sustainable transport options in the growing commuter belt
An improved and safer national road network
Fianna Fáil is committed to improving our road network – both the maintenance of our existing roads and building essential new roads. Maintaining a high-quality road network improves the quality of life of our citizens, improves the natural environment of towns and saves lives. We have introduced important road safety measures, including drug testing at accident scenes and regulating e-scooters and e-bikes. We will build on this work.If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will
- Increase funding for both essential new road construction and road maintenance.
- Ensure Local Authorities develop a Ring Roads and Relief Road Strategy to alleviate urban traffic.
- Create a new Pothole Action Fund for Local Authorities and utilise advanced imaging technology to expedite repairs.
- Fund a matching road maintenance catch up programme for local authorities with poor pavement surface conditions.
- Expand local link services.
- Invest in light rail for our cities.
- Develop sustainable transport options in the growing commuter belt.
- Triple the number of average speed camera systems throughout the country.
- Review the graduated penalty points system to align points with the level of speeding.
- Ensure local authorities have access to all information in relation to road collisions to inform road improvements.
Accelerate the transition to electric and sustainable transport Fianna Fáil has promoted sustainable transport through grants of up to €4,000, VRT relief of up to €5,000 and benefit-in-kind tax relief for electric vehicles and chargers. We have introduced grants of €25,000 for taxi drivers switching to wheelchair-accessible EVs.
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Review how the Government can assist with the faster roll out of EVs, by increasing the grant levels and linking the grant to income earnings.
- Reduce the average distance between EV recharging points.
- Ensure Local Authorities allocate space for EV chargers in town plans and mandate new commercial car parks to provide EV chargers.
- Recognising the importance of Dublin airport for our economic growth and development, we will
remove the passenger cap as soon as possible.- Continue to invest in our Regional State Airports, Cork and Shannon, with a view to significantly expanding the throughput of passengers.
- Continue to invest in the Regional Airports Programme, supporting Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock) airports.
- Launch a Government of Ireland EV Charger App showing all EV charger locations and availability.
- Support decarbonisation of road freight and commercial coach with green fuels like HVO, hydrogen, and biomethane.
Stronger Airport connectivity and capacity
Fianna Fáil has provided €138m to regional airports over the past four years – boosting passenger traffic by 9% above 2019 levels. Support for State airports included a new runway at Dublin Airport.
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Recognising the importance of Dublin airport for our economic growth and development, we will remove the passenger cap as soon as possible.
- Continue to invest in our Regional State Airports, Cork and Shannon, with a view to significantly expanding the throughput of passengers.
- Continue to invest in the Regional Airports Programme, supporting Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock) airports.
- Launch a Government of Ireland EV Charger App showing all EV charger locations and availability.
- Support decarbonisation of road freight and commercial coach with green fuels like HVO, hydrogen, and biomethane.
- Introduce a PSO to support Derry to Dublin flights.
- Continue to engage with stakeholders in relation to the expansion of Waterford Regional Airport.
- Update the National Aviation Policy to incorporate the goals of Project Ireland 2040.
Stronger Seaport connectivity and capacity
Since entering Government Fianna Fáil has doubled sailings to mainland Europe, secured significant EU funding for our port network and protected maritime supply lines in the postBrexit landscape.If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Support investment in our commercial and passenger port infrastructure through a new National Ports Policy.
- Reallocate funding for smaller local active travel projects to Local Authorities.
- Increase investment in greenways, blueways and develop urban trailways.
- Work with ports to support their infrastructure investments to facilitate offshore renewable energy
development.Amplify active travel
In 2019 Ireland spent €45m annually on active travel initiatives. Over the last four years, we increased this spending to €280m annually.If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Reallocate funding for smaller local active travel projects to Local Authorities.
- Increase investment in greenways, blueways and develop urban trailways.
- Expand the Support the Safe Routes to School programme.
Under the climate section and the subheader of “Healthier, happier communities”, FF outlines:
Greener energy systems brings with it better air quality, preventing chronic health issues and premature deaths; more public transport reduces congestion and stress for workers; and safe active transport and parks allow us to lead healthier, more active lives. We have already introduced Ireland’s first Clean Air Strategy to reduce air pollution and invested in Ireland’s active and public transport infrastructure.
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Invest in the roll-out of charging stations around the national road network.
- Increase investment in the Local Link Services to build upon our already significantly enhanced services.
- Ensure that Solas will train the skilled workers we need to deliver retrofitting.
- Ensure that at least €225m per annum of climate finance is delivered through Ireland’s Overseas Development Aid programme.
- Follow through on our commitments regarding carbon tax to ensure that carbon efficient practices are rewarded and to fund continued investment in environmental practices.
- Invest in our transport infrastructure, delivering additional capacity across rail, light rail and bus networks.
- Launch an EV Charger App showing EV charger locations and availability Expand the Support the Safe Routes to School programme.
Under the section “Supporting Children and their Families, FF commits to “…free public transport for children under age 9” but another subsection ups the number to 15:
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Make public transport free for all children under the age of 15.
Under its disability section and subsection called “Empower mobility though enhanced transport and technology”, FF outlines:
Since 2020, Fianna Fáil has consistently increased funding for the enhancement of public transport and transport services and ensured that 90% of Local Link networks are fully accessible for people with disabilities. Additionally, we partnered with the World Health Organization to launch the Global Report on Assistive Technology, and increased funding by 60% for the Assistive Technology Scheme.
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Expand the Travel Assistance Scheme nationally.
- Launch an annual vehicle upgrade initiative for disability service providers.
- Expand the Leitrim Integrated Transport Pilot Project nationally. This will allow…
- …
- Support localised door-to-door services like ACTS (Accessible Community Transport Southside).
- Extend the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Taxi Grant Scheme.
- Reduce the 24-hour notice requirement for disabled users of rail services.
Under the title of communities, FF commits to:
- Introducing a new transport police unit to focus on tackling anti-social behaviour.
And under policing, this is expanded further:
Create a standalone, dedicated Transport Police, focused on preventing and tackling crime and
anti-social behaviour on our national public transport network.
Under the header of “Reducing the cost of the weekly shop”, FF outlines:
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Ensure that the investment in infrastructure in roads, rail and ports translates into lower shipping and transportation costs of goods and ultimately to lower costs for consumers.
- Invest in improved efficiency in logistics chains to reduce costs of moving products.
Under the title of “Using once-off receipts to transform strategic investments”, FF said:
Over the course of the next government €17.1 billion in once-off receipts are available from the sale of AIB shares and the Apple revenues following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union….
Transport. €3.6 billion will be provided for the improvement of transport networks countrywide to promote increased business investment in the economy and the supply of new housing.
Under education, FF commits to:
- Expand the School Transport Service to include 100,000 students by 2030.