Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
249. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport to report on the work of the sustainable mobility research network; if he can provide an update on the mapping on the research already being undertaken on gaps identified; what research has been conducted or is currently being completed; how this provides an evidence-base for Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34982/23]
View answerUnder Action 74 of the Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP), my Department has established a Research Network to advise on, agree and focus resources towards research priorities which provide an evidence base for implementation of the Policy, drawing on national and international best practice. The Research Network is made up of representatives from my Department, the National Transport Authority (NTA), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Regional Assemblies.
The Network aims to enhance collaboration between members and ensure that the research being funded or conducted across the network is closely aligned with the needs of the Policy and that it supports the monitoring, or implementation of specific SMP Actions. The Network functions as a research coordination group, similar to other bodies across the Civil Service. It seeks to:
• prevent replication of research,
• promote synergies for research projects, and
• in general make the most efficient use of scarce research resources across the transport sector.
It also aims to support closer engagement between policy makers and the research community and help identify data gaps and provide a signal if research is taking place at the right level of detail and within the right timeframe to effectively inform policy.
In order to support the coordination of research across Network members, my Department coordinated the development of an initial set of research priorities, based on the 10 high level goals of the SMP and accompanying actions in the SMP Action Plan. A series of meetings were held between Network members where priorities were initially developed and then refined. The outcome of these meetings was a set of eight SMP Research Priorities (see Table 1 below).
Following the development of these research priorities my Department engaged in a research mapping exercise, where existing research currently being undertaken across the network was mapped against the research priorities. In total 35 projects were identified as falling within the scope of the SMP. The research mapping exercise also revealed that there were no projects currently identified as specifically addressing research priorities six and eight which relate to research on accessibility of transport users with specific mobility needs to sustainable transport modes and the provision of new technologies to promote sustainable and shared transport modes, respectively.
In addition to considering the classification of research across research priorities this exercise also considered, the timing and delivery mechanisms used to provide research.
The results of the research mapping exercise are currently being used by SMP Research Network members to inform their future research and research calls. My Department has also engaged with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) on potential opportunities for closer links and collaboration between academic researchers and policy makers.
Officials from my Department have also engaged with existing research networks and communication channels such as the Irish Transport Research Network (ITRN), a group of researchers and academics in universities and institutions of higher education, policy makers and practitioners government departments and industry professionals to promote innovation and progress in Transport in Ireland. A representative from my Department will present at the ITRN annual conference at the end of August to communicate future plans for research to be advanced by the Network.
These activities support the academic and research community in preparing research proposals which align with the priorities of the SMP and allow the members of the SMP Research Network to tailor future research calls and proposals which support advancing research under at least one SMP Research Priority area.
Table 1 SMP Goals and SMP Research Priorities
|
SMP Goal |
Associated SMP Research Priority |
|
Goal 1: Safe and Green Mobility. |
1. Evaluating factors affecting users’ perception of safety when using sustainable modes of transport and the most impactful interventions to address user concerns related to safety, including analysis of impacts for specific groups of transport users based on factors such as age and gender. |
|
Goal 2: Decarbonise public transport. |
2. Research to identify and address challenges associated with the roll out of electrification and low carbon technologies in public transport vehicles including rural and interurban vehicle fleets. |
|
Goal 3: Expand availability of sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas. |
3. Research to identify the key drivers and barriers to people in urban/rural areas choosing to engage in active travel and public transport and to identify the most impactful changes which can stimulate significant levels of behavioural shift in areas including: a) Infrastructure provision. b) Service delivery. c) Travel cost d) Communication and information campaigns e) Safety f) Shared mobility & services |
|
Goal 5: Encourage people to choose sustainable mobility over the private car. |
4. Research to evaluate the impact of demand management measures, including road space reallocation, implemented in the urban centres.
5. Research on factors which lead to reduced car ownership (car shedding) and reductions in private car use, including workplace and community interventions. |
|
Goal 6: Take a whole of journey approach to mobility, promoting inclusive access for all. |
6. Research to assess the needs of transport service users with specific mobility needs including people with reduced mobility and how these needs can be best served through the provision of transport services. |
|
Goal 9: Better integrate land use and transport planning at all levels. |
7. Research on the impact of infrastructure development to support integration of transport and land-use planning which reduce the need to travel and promote sustainable mobility, including 15-minute cities and 10-minute towns. |
|
Goal 10: Promote smart and integrated mobility through innovative technologies and development of appropriate regulation. |
8. Research to promote and integrate innovative technologies to promote sustainable mobility including micromobility, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and shared transport solutions. |
*Note not all SMP Goals have an associated research priority and some priorities address more than one SMP goal.
