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 Social Democrats’ manifesto is 150 pages long, including 2,500 words on transport issues. The SocDems also has a cycling policy that runs to 1,900 words.
Links to other pages:
| Overview with parties compared |
| Fianna Fáil |
| Sinn Féin |
| Fine Gael |
| Labour |
| Green Party |
| PBP |
First is the SocDems’ manifesto, and the cycling policy follows. From the main section on transport:
Transport
One of the starkest differences between Ireland and other European countries is our poor public transport system. Under successive Irish Governments, one abandoned or delayed public transport plan has followed another. Transport policy has focussed on moving cars, not moving people.The failure of successive Governments to properly plan, fund and deliver public transport programmes means that each of us live daily with the consequences. We have little rural public transport of which to speak. Our capital city suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in the world, and many of our other towns and cities are not much better.
The result is that we have created severe urban sprawl with poorly planned car-dependent communities.
Our rail network is sparse. Cycling is not safe. Pedestrians are only rarely considered. Air pollution is unacceptably high. We continue to incentivise the most environmentally damaging forms of transport and leave people with very few options to reduce their carbon footprint.
Our transport policy is informed by the core tradition of social democracy; ensuring that our national resources and collective efforts are marshalled to the benefit of society as a whole rather than the individual.
Our Policy is grounded on three core pillars:
➢ Climate Transformer – Public Transport as a key part of the transition to a carbon-neutral society.
➢ Social Transformer – Public Transport as a Universal Basic Service; a public good delivered as a public service, rather than something to be privatised and run for profit.
➢ Economic Driver – Public Transport as a pillar to enhance our national and international infrastructure and capacity. We need more buses, more trains, more often!In Government, the Social Democrats’ priorities will include:
➢ A €1 fare, valid at off-peak times, which would incentivise public transport use and help deal
with capacity constraints. Public transport fares more generally should be cut, and Transport for Ireland should be funded to begin expanding the ‘90 Minute Fare’ (increasing the time limit to 120 minutes) and rolling it out for cities away from the capital.
➢ Providing free public transport for under 18s.
➢ The decarbonisation of transport through a significant modal shift from private car use to public transport and active travel.
➢ Shifting the balance of investment in transport from roads towards public transport.
➢ A higher investment in rail, public transport and active mobility; and improved coordination between land-use and transport planning.
➢ The continued public funding of state-owned public transport regulatory bodies, infrastructure providers, and transport operators to advance improvements in the public transport network for citizens, as well as improved working conditions for employees.
➢ Ring-fenced funding for the purchase of new buses to expand capacity on Ireland’s public transport network, and investment in the transition to a low- or zero-emission public bus fleet.
➢ Continuing to improve the affordability of public transport fares.
➢ Moving towards a proper 24-hour public transport system, including at weekends.
➢ Doubling funding to the Rural Transport Programme and to Local Link to increase availability, provide further local and circular routes servicing towns and villages, and ensure the fleet is in line with climate commitments.
➢ Investment in a new National Transport Policing Unit to police mainland rail services, and DART, tram and bus services.
➢ Developing major National Development Plan transport projects, including:
- MetroLink between Dublin city centre and Swords.
- Expansions of the DART and Luas, including the Luas to Finglas, as well as the development of light rail in Cork and Galway.
- The Cork Commuter Rail project.
- Bus Connects in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick, in close consultation with The Major Projects Advisory Group, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland
(TII), and with users (pre and post both design and implementation), on the optimal timelines for implementation.- Supporting the findings of the All Island Rail Review, including the development of the Western Rail Corridor.
- Re-examining current plans for MetroLink, including commissioning an independent study on continuing the line to southwest Dublin.
- Supporting the principle that ‘the polluter pays’. Accordingly, we will implement environmentally motivated fiscal measures according to the respective negative externalities of different transport modes, considering things like accidents, congestion, noise, greenhouse emissions and damage to biodiversity.
- Treating public transport as a public good, and opposing the increased privatisation of services. Public bus routes can only be sustained if they provide a reliable service that people can depend on and value.
- Establishing directly elected mayors in our major cities who will take responsibility for transport planning, with consideration given to overall catchment areas and not just the mayor’s specific jurisdiction.
- Ringfencing a minimum of 15 per cent of the total transport capital budget on the development of walking and cycling infrastructure all over Ireland, including networks within towns, and also more rural areas of the country as well as rural Greenways.
- Adequately resourcing state and semi-state agencies and local authorities who have responsibilities for governance, planning and environmental protection to monitor compliance among transport providers and operators in the public and private sector.
- Build a Comprehensive School Transport system.
- Invest in public transport to ensure it is more accessible for people with disabilities.
- Mandate consultation with Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) at all stages of the development of transport strategies and new transport projects, whether led nationally or locally.
- Review Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) with a view to promoting smaller greener vehicles.
- Further information about our plans for a more integrated and sustainable transport system can be found in our Transport Policy Document on our website.
Cycling
Ireland is far behind much of Europe in terms of cycling infrastructure and approach. The Social Democrats recognise that cycling is a major transport area that can contribute hugely to society. Whilst there has been a recent Government effort to improve active travel infrastructure, progress has been slow and has not been sufficiently ambitious.
The benefits of cycling are enormous. And everyone, cyclist or not, gains. With more cycling, we get:
⮚ Less pollution and less congestion.
⮚ Healthier lifestyles and a more active population.
⮚ Better mobility and quicker commuting times.
⮚ Safer streets and more liveable neighbourhoods.
⮚ The possibility of 15 Minute Cities and Communities that residents want to stay in and spend time in.In Government, the Social Democrats’ priorities will include:
Increased Funding for Cycling
Both current and capital funding are critical to the expansion of cycling. We are committed to
maintaining the recent increase of cycling funding to 10 per cent of the Land Transport Budget and in
the medium term, increasing funding so that 15 per cent of the Transport Capital Budget is spent on
cycling and walking as recommended by the UN in their Global Outlook on Walking and Cycling 2016.Proper Segregation for Safe Cycling
The first priority of extra funding for cycling should be the implementation of the Cycle Connects
Network and the GDA Cycle Network Plan so that cyclists are as safe as possible. We are committed to planning for sustained improvements in the years ahead so that everyone can feel safe when cycling.As a general rule, if the cycle network does not adhere to the Hierarchy of Road Users, then it fails
to meet the required standard.Improved Cycling Infrastructure
We will invest in bicycle parking infrastructure, particularly at transport hubs.We will increase the bike storage capacity on our public transport rolling stock as it is updated, to
ensure that cyclists can bring bikes on buses and trains to facilitate more bike commuting from
suburbs and across the country. Where possible, the costs to such commuters for this service should
be minimised or removed completely.At the local Council level, we will ensure that Cycle Connects and the GDA Cycle Network plan are
prioritised as part of each relevant local authority’s development plan process, as well as priority for
the building of cycling networks within towns.And we will increase funding for the maintenance of cycle lanes at a local level.
We will further ensure that cycling is a central provision in each Local Area Plan, Strategic Development Zone and Master Development plan for individual sites. It is our aim to increase transport connectivity between modes of transport by funding more Bike and Ride facilities adjacent to large towns and cities.
Cycling Greenways
We welcome the publication and roll out of the Code of Best – Practice National and Regional
Greenways.We are committed to investing heavily in additional greenways and cycling routes to further promote
cycling as a family-friendly pursuit and as a means of encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get
on their bikes and make cycling a way of life.This should also help boost tourism and local economies in the areas where Greenways are built.
We are delighted to see the success of some existing routes. However, we believe existing greenways could be better marketed than at present, and better route information on issues such as gradient, rest points, unsegregated sections etc. could boost participation even further.
Cycling Incentive Schemes
We want to make the Bike to Work Scheme more inclusive with a complementary grant scheme focusing on those outside the workforce, with specific supports for people with disabilities to adapt bikes to their use.We will improve the Bike to Work Scheme rate to €1,500 and look to expand this scheme to better
support electric and cargo bikes. We will also review the scheme to examine how it could support the self-employed and those not currently in the tax net.We believe the definition of ‘eligible equipment’ under the Bike to Work Scheme should be
expanded to include child seats and trailers designed to safely carry children.At local level, we will aim to create a bike library in each local authority, lending ebikes and cargo bikes
for up to one month. This could be managed as part of Active Travel teams in county and city councils.Urban Bike Schemes
We will connect the numerous urban bike schemes and bring them under the umbrella of the NTA and expand the scheme in as many large urban areas as is feasible.We are not satisfied that the current management of existing schemes is maximising usage in certain
areas and we believe that usage could be improved with enhanced maintenance and better locations
reflective of where people are more likely to use them.Safer School Trips
Every child should have a safe route to school. We will continue to promote cycling as the optimum
mode of transport for children travelling to school.We acknowledge the good work of the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Programme in relation to active
travel and we will seek to build on this.We will work to provide safe walking and cycling paths around every school in the country, so that
those children who choose to walk, scoot or cycle to school can do so safely.We will continue to support the cycle bus initiative, such as the highly successful Galway Cycle Bus, and
seek to emulate it right across the country. However, we acknowledge such initiatives would not be needed if proper cycling infrastructure was in place, and will work towards their obsolescence.Funding should be prioritised for community initiatives such as those that promote active travel to schools.
Better Enforcement
We will strongly advocate for the proper enforcement of new laws that protect cyclists, including dangerous overtaking.We will set aside funding for proper Garda enforcement as it applies to cyclists – especially the
issues of illegal parking in cycle lanes, the ongoing high rates of bike theft, and indeed the issue of
dangerous cycling itself. We will create an online platform for cyclists to report and upload footage for An Garda Síochána of dangerous behaviour, intimidation or incidents from bicycle and helmet mounted cameras.Cycling Governance
We will ensure that each local Council is covered by at least one cycling officer to help promote, educate
and progress cycling initiatives at local level.We will ensure that there is a fully resourced unit within the Department of Transport dedicated
solely to cycling, and that it acts as a champion and guardian of cycling interests. We will appoint a
National Cycling Officer to lead this unit and ensure that there is full transparency on how much public money is actually spent on cycling.Data Collection and Cycling Audits
We will expand data collection on cycling nationwide. This will include live traffic volume monitors on major arterial roads, bike-share usage, and reported incidents. This will help ascertain trends and inform policy on safety issues for cyclists in relation to cars, buses, trams, pedestrians, drains, manhole covers, lack of lights and lack of visibility.Further information about our plans for better investment in cycling can be found in our Cycling Policy Document on our website.
Under their disability section, the SocDems have the following related to transport:
Introduce replacement schemes for the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance based on assessment of individual needs.
The SocDems’s climate section also includes the following:
As part of the next government, the Social Democrats will ensure that the necessary systems and structures are in place so that Ireland can play its role in creating a sustainable planet where no one is left behind.
This will require, among other things, a significant modal shift in transport use towards clean green public transport and electric vehicles.
….
In Government, the Social Democrats will:
…
- Put a focus on the rapid electrification of industry and transport where feasible, accelerating the delivery of wind energy infrastructure (both on- and offshore), solar, and the necessary electricity grid development in order to meet increased demand.
- …
- Plan, fund and deliver ambitious nation-wide public transport programmes, including high-capacity sustainable transport.
- Continue to increase the affordability of public transport, to encourage greater usage.
- …
- Restore the Electric Vehicle grant to €5,000, and increase investment in the EV charging point network, including disability- and gender-proofing EV charging infrastructure.
- Target EV subsidies to those who have fewer public transport options.
- …
- Invest to upgrade our port infrastructure to allow for the development of offshore wind farms, and allow for the transport of materials to facilitate the maintenance and ongoing operation of offshore infrastructure.
Under a section on clean air, the Soc Dems:
In Government, the Social Democrats will:
- Enact a new Clean Air Act, striving for Ireland to have the world’s cleanest air by 2035.
- Set air pollution controls in a phased approach, to meet WHO guidelines by 2035.
- …
- Legislate for a national car idling ban
- …
- Introduce a NOx charge on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and other polluting vehicles and expand the scrappage scheme for older, polluting vehicles.
- Make major investment in modes of active travel at a local level (walking and cycling) and multi-modes of transport (park and ride, train commute journeys).
- Increase investment in electric vehicles, the EV charging point network, and public transport across the country.
Under the section on education, the SocDems said:
In Government, the Social Democrats will:
- Make primary and secondary education truly free by…. abolishing payments for the school transport scheme.
Under Arts & Culture, the SocDems said they will if in Government:
- Revitalise our night-time cultural economy by legislating for later opening hours for venues and bars, as well as further extending the hours of public transport systems.
Under the header of ‘Decent Public Services – Rebuilding the Capacity of the Public Sector’, the SocDems also promises:
Treating public transport as a public good, and opposing the increased privatisation of public transport
Under a section on directly elected mayors, the SocDems also said:
That directly elected mayors established in our major cities would take responsibility for transport planning, with consideration given to overall catchment areas and not just the mayor’s specific jurisdiction.
SocDems Cycling Policy
The SocDems also have a Cycling Policy document which runs to nine pages:
Introduction
Successive Irish governments have focussed on moving cars, rather than people as their transport policy. This has led to our capital city being one of the most congested in the world and many other towns and cities not faring much better.We have severe urban sprawl with poorly planned car-dependent communities, and little or no consideration of other modes of transport, in particular cycling which is just not safe in too many places.
Ireland is far behind much of Europe in terms of cycling infrastructure and approach. The Social Democrats recognise that cycling is a major transport area that can contribute hugely to society. Whilst there has been a recent Government effort to improve active travel infrastructure, progress has been slow and has not been sufficiently ambitious.
The benefits of cycling are enormous. And everyone, cyclist or not, gains. With more cycling, we get:
⮚ Less pollution and less congestion.
⮚ Healthier lifestyles and a more active population.
⮚ Better mobility and quicker commuting times.
⮚ Safer streets and more liveable neighbourhoods.
⮚ The possibility of 15 Minute Cities and Communities that residents want to stay and spend time in.Cycling saves time, saves money, and saves lives.
With all these benefits, it remains a mystery why official Ireland has been so slow to promote cycling or indeed to catch up with the very significant public demand for safer cycling routes. A prime example of lack of prioritisation is the Liffey Cycle route, where a segregated route was originally planned to be in place by 2017 and still hasn’t been delivered in full. The Social Democrats are determined to change this.Already, our representatives across the country have been championing the cause of cycling, from our work in support of the Baldoyle to Portmarnock Cycleway in Dublin to the Naas Greenway in Kildare to the Cycle Bus Initiative in Galway and Active Travel Routes in Dun Laoghaire. We want to build on this work and put cycling right at the heart of what public bodies do.
If we are to take cycling to the next level, then we need to accept that something has to give. The current way of thinking is just not sustainable.
Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam see a huge number of daily journeys made by bicycle. This did not happen by accident or due to cultural differences. Copenhagen, for example, was choked with car traffic until the 1970s when deliberate policy decisions were made to prioritise cycling. We’re not reinventing the (bicycle) wheel here – we want to follow Copenhagen’s leadership.
The objective of this Social Democrats policy is to capture all of the benefits of cycling by investing far more time, money and public attention in cycling.
We want to make cycling a realistic alternative to the car and encourage more people to take up cycling as a normal part of their everyday lives. The Social Democrats are committed to achieving a target of 30 per cent cycling for commuting traffic in Urban areas.
To do this, we want to significantly raise the share of funding cycling gets and to change the way in which we approach road design, cycling safety, enforcement of road traffic law and much more besides.
Our 12 Point Plan for Cycling includes:
⮚ Increased Funding for Cycling
⮚ Proper Segregation, for Safer Cycling
⮚ Improved Cycling Infrastructure
⮚ More Cycling Greenways
⮚ Urban Bike Schemes
⮚ Safer School Trips
⮚ Better Enforcement
⮚ Revision of Cycling Incentive Schemes
Our 12 Point Plan for Cycling Increased Funding for Cycling
We are committed to maintaining the recent increase of cycling funding to 10 per cent of the Land
Transport Budget and in the medium term, increasing funding so that 15 per cent of the Transport
Capital Budget is spent on cycling and walking.Both current and capital funding are critical to the expansion of cycling.
Proper Segregation for Safe Cycling
The first priority of extra funding for cycling should be the implementation of the Cycle Connects Network and the GDA Cycle Network Plan so that cyclists are as safe as possible.
We are committed to planning for sustained improvements in the years ahead so that everyone can feel safe when cycling.
As a general rule, if the cycle network does not adhere to the Hierarchy of Road Users, then it fails
to meet the required standard.In the interim and where cycle lanes can’t be segregated, we favour the programming of traffic lights so that cyclists can get a head start.
We support the Love30 campaign to see safer road speeds where active travel users cannot be segregated from faster moving vehicular traffic.
We also favour greater use of segregated contra flow cycle lanes.
Improved Cycling Infrastructure
We will invest in bicycle parking infrastructure, particularly at transport hubs.
We will increase the bike storage capacity on our public transport rolling stock as it is updated, to
ensure that cyclists can bring bikes on buses and trains to facilitate more bike commuting from suburbs and across the country. Where possible, the costs to such commuters for this service should be minimised or removed completely.We will increase funding for the maintenance of cycle lanes at a local level.
We will improve road designs so that roundabouts are less hazardous, so that hostile junctions are redesigned and manhole covers, drains and other potential hazards are appropriately positioned.
We will ensure that all road upgrades and new roads comply with best practice road safety standards and the Hierarchy of Road Users is respected.
At the local Council level, we will ensure that Cycle Connects and the GDA Cycle Network plan are
prioritised as part of each relevant local authority’s development plan process, as well as priority for the
building of cycling networks within towns.We will further ensure that cycling is a central provision in each Local Area Plan, Strategic Development Zone and Master Development plan for individual sites. It is our aim to increase transport connectivity between modes of transport by funding more Bike and Ride facilities adjacent to large towns and cities.
Cycling Greenways
We welcome the publication and roll out of the Code of Best – Practice National and Regional Greenways.
We are committed to investing heavily in additional greenways and cycling routes to further promote
cycling as a family-friendly pursuit and as a means of encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get
on their bikes and make cycling a way of life.This should also help boost tourism and local economies in the areas where Greenways are built. We are
delighted to see the success of some existing routes – however, we believe existing greenways could be
better marketed than at present, and better route information on issues such as gradient, rest points,
unsegregated sections etc could boost participation even further.We must challenge the culture of objections to such developments, particularly where these objections
appear to emanate from a desire for personal convenience, the continuation of car-centric culture,
or financial gain.Cycling Incentive Schemes
We want to make the Bike to Work Scheme more inclusive with a complementary grant scheme focusing on those outside the workforce, with specific supports for people with disabilities to adapt
bikes to their use.We will improve the Bike to Work Scheme rate to €1,500 and look to expand this scheme to better support electric and cargo bikes. We will also review the scheme to examine how it could support the self-employed and those not currently in the tax net.
We believe the definition of ‘eligible equipment’ under the Bike to Work Scheme should be expanded to include child seats and trailers designed to safely carry children.
At local level, we would aim to create a bike library in each local authority, lending ebikes and cargo bikes for up to one month. This could be managed as part of Active Travel teams in county and city councils.
Urban Bike Schemes
We will connect the numerous urban bike schemes and bring them under the umbrella of the NTA and
expand the scheme in as many large urban areas as is feasible.We are not satisfied that the current management of existing schemes is maximising usage in certain areas and we believe that usage could be improved with enhanced maintenance and better locations reflective of where people are more likely to use them.
We would also like to see the docked bicycle schemes expanded to include eBikes, to greater incentive use within the community.
Safer School Trips
Every child should have a safe route to school. We will continue to promote cycling as the optimum mode of transport for children travelling to school.We acknowledge the good work of the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Programme in relation to active
travel and we will seek to build on this.We will work to provide safe walking and cycling paths around every school in the country, so that those
children who choose to walk, scoot or cycle to school can do so safely.We will continue to support the cycle bus initiative, such as the highly successful Galway Cycle Bus,
and seek to emulate it right across the country. However, we acknowledge such initiatives would
not be needed if proper cycling infrastructure was in place, and will work towards their obsolescence.
We will adopt a new national strategy on the weight of school bags to further encourage young children to cycle to school.Cycling Training
We will expand cycling training for primary and secondary school children and ensure that cycling
safety forms a larger part of driver training.We will create a free-to-access online National Cycle Training platform with guidance, advice, educational videos and animations so that all students and teachers can access safe-cycling information.
Better Enforcement
We will strongly advocate for the proper enforcement of new laws that protect cyclists, including dangerous overtaking. We will examine other laws that might be necessary and expand the range of urban areas covered by 30km/h speed limits. We will set aside funding for proper Garda enforcement as it applies to cyclists – especially the issues of illegal parking in cycle lanes, the ongoing high rates of bike theft, and indeed the issue of dangerous cycling itself.We will create an online platform for cyclists to report and upload footage for An Garda Síochana of dangerous behaviour, intimidation or incidents from bicycle and helmet mounted cameras.
Local Cycling Officers
We will ensure that each local Council is covered by at least one cycling officer to help promote, educate and progress cycling initiatives at local level.Our Councillors will also lobby so that the filling of any vacancies of pedestrian and cycling officers are
prioritised within the Council’s recruitment process.Cycling Governance
We will ensure that there is a fully resourced unit within the Department of Transport dedicated
solely to cycling, and that it acts as a champion and guardian of cyclists.The current Sustainable Transport Unit is too small and does not have enough clout within the Department. We will appoint a National Cycling Officer to lead this unit and ensure that there is full transparency on how much public money is actually spent on cycling.
Data Collection and Cycling Audits
We will expand data collection on cycling nationwide. This will include live traffic volume monitors on major arterial roads, bike-share usage, and reported incidents.
This will help ascertain trends and inform policy on safety issues for cyclists in relation to cars, buses, trams, pedestrians, drains, manhole covers, lack of lights and lack of visibility.
The quality of cycling provision should be audited annually by each local Council with details of trends in fatalities, injuries and particular blackspots, such as tramlines or certain junctions, reported on.