Budget 2021 - Transport Related News

Sustainable Transport
Funding of approximately €1.8 billion for sustainable mobility, including public transport, carbon reduction programmes, active travel and greenways.

Next year will see:
- construction continue on the National Train Control Centre
- completion of the City Centre Resignalling Programme
- enhancement and expansion of the PSO bus fleets through the purchase of additional buses
entry into service of new hybrid PSO buses
- roll-out of BusConnects Dublin improved services on two of the new network spines
- submission of the planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the Dublin BusConnects Core Bus Corridors
- progression of Next Generation Ticketing under the BusConnects programme
- expansion of the rail fleet with the construction of 41 additional ICR carriages
- contract signing for largest ever rail fleet expansion with potential for up to 600 electric / battery electric carriages
- construction continuing on a new rail station at Pelletstown, re-commissioning works at Kishogue station and - commencement of construction on a new DART station at Woodbrook
- delivery and entry into service of the remaining additional longer trams and tram extensions to the existing tram fleet on the Luas Green Line
- A significant additional allocation of €340 million will be made to Public Service Obligation (PSO) services provided by State operators and some private operators under contract by the National Transport Authority. Temporary support of €30 million will also be provided to key Commercial Bus Operators.

In addition to the above, investment will also be made in:
- Local Link services, including rural regular services funded through PSO and managed by the Local Link offices
- enhanced maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network
- the Retro-fit Programme to make older public transport infrastructure more accessible for people with disabilities - accessibility is built into new projects

Active Travel and Greenways

€360 million investment in walking and cycling across Government will support, major projects in all main cities, increased funding for greenways (now €50 million) and the roll out of the Safe Routes to School Programme.

Cycling, Walking and Greenway infrastructure projects include:
- Royal Canal Cycle Scheme
- New walking and cycling bridge over river Shannon at Athlone
- Clontarf to City Centre Cycle Scheme
- Extension of Grand Canal Greenway in Offaly
- Dodder Cycle Route
- Refurbishment of Great Southern Greenway in Limerick
- Donabate Estuary Walking and Cycling Route
- GDA Cycle Networks, Kildare
- Strategic Cycle Corridors, Cork
- Golf Links Rd, Clare St to Condell Rd, UL to National Technology Park, Limerick
- Bilberry to City Centre, Waterford

Carbon Reduction Programmes

€27 million for tackling climate change through investment in carbon reduction schemes:

A 2021 allocation of €15 million will support up to 750 taxi and hackney drivers in scrapping their older vehicles and replacing them zero-emission capable electric alternatives. The scrappage scheme will be open for taxis and hackneys reaching their maximum permissible age limit in 2020/21. Up to €20,000 will be made available for eligible drivers switching to a new all-electric vehicle and up to €32,500 for those moving to a wheel chair accessible full electric vehicle. The roll-out of dedicated EV Taxi Recharging Points will also be stepped up to support the transition of this key sector, helping to encourage the wider vehicle transition and supporting cleaner air in our cities and towns. In addition, the Department is providing the necessary funding to the NTA to enable it to waive annual vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021.

A further €12 million will be allocated in 2021 towards a number of carbon reduction measures, including:
- supports for a new vehicle purchase grant to help freight and commercial bus operators to buy electric, gas or hydrogen fuelled vehicles
- funding to trial hydrogen fuelled buses as well as supporting the further transition of Local Link services to zero-emission vehicles in rural Ireland
- continuation of the Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI) Scheme and the Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme. The LEVTI Scheme encourages those who regularly use tolled roads to switch to lower emitting alternatives while the eSPSV Grant Scheme supports those who do not qualify for the EV Scrappage Scheme (not reaching their maximum permissible age limit in 2020/21 or new entrants to the sector) in transitioning towards electric vehicles by providing up to €10,000 towards the purchase for a new full electric vehicle or €12,500 for an electric wheelchair accessible model
- funding studies and research projects including the key Demand Management Study (to understand measures available to help address growing transport levels in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford), a number of freight studies and other research

Roads

Approximately €1.3 billion for national, regional and local roads.

A 2021 allocation of €799 million will allow the Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to continue to provide grant support for the National Road network maintenance and renewal programmes. This includes funding to reseal roads and strengthen roads across the network. In addition, it will enable the progression of new major road schemes identified in the NDP 2018-2027 and will fund TII contractual obligations to Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects on national roads.

Works will progress on major Project 2040 road projects including:
- N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin, Sligo
- N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom Upgrade Scheme
- N5 Westport to Turlough
- N56 Dungloe to Glenties
- M8/N40/N25 Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade
- M50 Enhancing Motorway Operations ie Variable Speed Limits
- Regional and Local Roads Programme

A 2021 allocation of €584 million will allow the department to continue to provide grant support for the regional and local road network maintenance and renewal programme. This includes funding to reseal roads and strengthen roads across the network. Funding will also be provided for safety improvement works, bridge rehabilitation works, maintenance of former national roads and Community Involvement Schemes.

Work will progress/continue on Project 2040 regional and local roads projects including:
- Sallins By-Pass
- Bettystown to Laytown Link Road
- Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road
- Tralee Northern Relief Road

Aviation

€31.3 million is being provided to support regional airports in 2021, consisting of €21.3 million for our smallest airports – Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock) under the Regional Airports Programme and €10 million for the regional State airports of Shannon and Cork.

The Regional Airports Programme provides targeted funding through a number of capital and operational grant schemes for safety and security related projects and activities as well as providing the necessary funds to support Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services on two routes, Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin.

For the first time, in recognition of the devastating effects of COVID-19, Shannon and Cork airports will have also access to funding under an Exchequer-funded programme. €10 million in capital support is being made available for safety and security projects at these airports. This funding will go some way to protecting the cash position of the companies in dealing with the crisis.

€15 million is provided order to ensure that customers of insolvent travel agents and tour operators may be refunded in full.

In terms of international aviation, we remain focused on ensuring that this sector can rebound and rebuild the network of international air services that will be key to our wider economic recovery. We are not yet at a point however where it is possible to permit a large scale return to air travel. The government has committed that measures to safeguard strategic connectivity and build resilience will be included in the National Economic Plan which will be announced shortly.

Maritime Transport and Safety

€108 million will be allocated in 2021 to maritime transport and safety:

This funding will support the work of the Irish Coast Guard; provide for the services of the Maritime Safety Policy Division, the Marine Survey Office, the Mercantile Marine Office, the Marine Radio Affairs Unit and the Department’s contribution towards the net cost of the Commissioners of Irish Lights operations all of which are responsible for ensuring productive and safe use of Ireland’s seas. In addition, funding is provided to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to allow it to carry out its functions to examine and if necessary carry out investigations into all types of marine casualties to, or on board, Irish registered vessels worldwide and other vessels in Irish territorial waters and inland waterways.