Just Transition Focus

At the outset, six key areas for consideration were identified, with a system, demand generation and just transition focus. These were as follows (more detail on the rationale for these areas is set out in Chapter 9):

(NWRA) and local authorities, NGOs (e.g. Irish Doctors for the Environment, An Taisce); disability representatives; community groups e.g. Dingle Hub; Transport Operators (Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann); academia (Trinity, Technological University Dublin, University of Limerick, Atlantic Technological University Sligo, University College London); industry/business - Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI), Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), Ports, Amazon, Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC); and media representatives among others.

Systems Focus

1. Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning

2. Optimal Use of Space

3. Fiscal Measures

Building on existing research and case studies, notably the work of the Five Cities Demand Management Study, insights from the 2022 OECD Report and the International Transport Forum in the area of demand management, each subgroup was also tasked with examining the impacts of measures through various lens including just transition, reducing less sustainable transport demand, improving air quality, reducing emissions, and maximising the wellbeing utility of public space. The outcome from this engagement is reflected in Chapter 9 of this Strategy and the collective suite of recommendations, including further measures to promote ongoing engagement, are represented in Chapter 10.

Demand Generation Focus

4. Generators of Demand (Movement of People)

5. Generators of Demand (Movement of Goods)

Just Transition Focus

6. Captive Car Users

Six expert subgroups were established for each of the above, consisting of stakeholders from government departments and agencies, local authorities, industry, academia, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). While the six areas were not mutually exclusive and there was a degree of overlap across many of the subgroup discussions and conclusions, this approach provided for a series of different lenses through which to consider and evaluate the challenges and opportunities in developing a comprehensive strategy. The sub-groups were tasked with identifying demand management and related measures, including any barriers to implementation, that should be prioritised across multiple policy areas in Ireland.

Following this process, the Department published a draft of the Strategy as well as a draft Implementation Plan for public consultation during a four-month period in 2024. To align with the public consultation, the Department also held a further round of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including, among others, representatives from community organisations, social justice advocacy groups, sporting bodies, third level institutions, business and industry as well as Disability Persons Representative Organisations (DPROs). A summary of the submissions and views collated during 2024, and how this process helped to strengthen the Strategy, was published alongside this document. The implementation plan has since been fully incorporated into the Strategy and is attached at Appendix 3.

Over 100 stakeholders, from 57 organisations, were involved in the work of these subgroups. In addition to the organisations represented on the Steering Group (see Figure 2), the following made important contributions to the process: Department of Health, Health Service Executive (HSE), Sport Ireland, Office of Public Works (OPW), the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Enterprise Ireland, Heritage Council, Irish Planning Institute, Office of Planning Regulator, Land Development Agency, National Economic and Social Council (NESC), Northern and Western Regional Assembly

Wider public sentiment and attitudes towards demand management measures were also considered while shaping this Strategy, through a series of focus groups which were held in October 2023.