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<\/p>\nIreland’s dependence on fossil fuels in transport is leaving the country exposed to repeated fuel price shocks as global energy markets remain disrupted, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has warned.<\/p>\n
Accelerated investment in public transport, active travel, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and grid capacity would reduce this exposure, the council said in the transport chapter of its 2026 Annual Review.<\/p>\n
Temporary emergency responses to fuel price increases were not sufficiently targeted, it said, recommending that those most exposed and least able to avoid fuel costs be given support.<\/p>\n
Welcoming the Government’s pilot scrappage scheme to incentivise the purchase of new EVs, the CCAC said measures were needed to increase EV uptake among lower-income households, particularly in areas with high car dependency and limited access to public transport.<\/p>\n
Expanded EV charging infrastructure and the real-time mapping of EV charging points would give people confidence to transition from petrol and diesel, the report said.<\/p>\n
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There was a 6% increase in journeys across the Transport for Ireland network last year compared to 2024, with Local Link journeys increasing by 19%.<\/p>\n
However total public transport journeys was largely unchanged, which the CCAC said could indicate some services are running at near-full capacity, particularly at peak times.<\/p>\n
Accelerated delivery of projects like DART+ South West, Luas Finglas and the National Transport Authority’s Park and Ride Investment Programme would increase capacity, the CCAC said. <\/p>\n
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences<\/a><\/p>\n Fossil fuel shocks “are not one-off events” and giving alternatives is the way to reduce exposure to shocks, said Alex White, CCAC Chairperson.<\/p>\n “That means sustained investment in public transport, a charging network people can rely on, and the grid capacity needed to support the switch to electric across cars, buses and commercial fleets,” he said.<\/p>\n “This transition also has to be fair. Supports should be targeted at those most exposed to transport fuel costs, particularly people on lower incomes and those who are car-dependent because they do not have access to practical alternatives.”<\/p>\n