2.4 National Sustainable Mobility Policy

2.3 National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland

The National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI), published in Dec 2021, is the DoT’s framework for prioritising future investment in the land transport network to support the delivery of the NPF NSOs. NIFTI also ensures alignment with the Climate Action Plan 2021 by incorporating measures set out within the action plan for land transport.

2.3.1 NIFTI Investment Priorities

NIFTI translates the ten NPF NSOs to a land transport specific context, developing four Investment Priorities that will ensure that the transport sector plays its part in delivering the NPF. NIFTI also considers and incorporates the requirements of the Climate Action Plan with respect to transport.

Figure 2.3 NIFTI Investement Priorities

Future transport projects must align with one or more of NIFTI’s four Investment Priorities: Decarbonisation; Protection and Renewal; Mobility of People and Goods in Urban Areas; Enhanced Regional and Rural Connectivity; and set out how potential negative impacts against them will be mitigated, to be considered for funding.

As the NSOs are embedded in NIFTI, future investment in accordance with these priorities which will support the delivery of the NPF over the coming decades to 2040.

2.3.2 NIFTI Modal and Intervention Hierarchies

A well-managed National Roads network (now and into the future) will support the achievement of various Project Ireland 2040 NSOs, for example: enhancing regional accessibility by reducing congestion on National Roads, allowing people and goods to move freely between the five cities and five regional centres in Ireland (as defined in the NPF1). NIFTI also establishes Modal and Intervention Hierarchies to further guide transport investment; and ensure appropriate transport solutions are developed.

NIFTI Intervention Hierarchy	NIFTI Modal Hierarchy
Maintain Optimise Improve New	Active Travel Public Transport Private Vehicles

The Modal and Intervention Hierarchies are also incorporated within NR2040. Future investment on National Roads will be developed in accordance with the Hierarchies.

2.4 National Sustainable Mobility Policy

The DoT’s National Sustainable Mobility policy, published in April 2022, sets out a strategic framework to 2030 for active travel and public transport. The policy aims to support Ireland’s overall requirement to achieve a 51 percent reduction in carbon emissions by the end of this decade. The policy targets at least 500,000 additional daily active travel and public transport journeys and a 10 percent reduction in kilometres driven by fossil fuelled cars by 2030, in line with targets for transport set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. For TII, actions relating to National Roads focus on improving road safety and provision of infrastructure to support sustainable mobility. These are also set out in Appendix A.

1 Cities – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Regional Centres – Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo.