James Kearney
Education and Network Manager, CILT Mobility & Supply Chain Skillnet
Electrification, digital integration and a renewed focus on accessibility are reshaping how people move, and Ireland is showing that a coordinated national strategy can deliver real-world results.
Passenger mobility is entering a defining phase. The change is visible everywhere — cleaner fleets, expanding rural services and shifting consumer preferences.
Initiatives accelerate clean transport and improve rural mobility
Public transport electrification continues to accelerate. More than 41% of PSO buses across Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are now low- or zero-emission, with Limerick becoming Ireland’s first fully electric bus city.
Ireland’s rural mobility challenge is also being tackled head-on. The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has introduced over 150 new or enhanced routes, driving a 28% patronage increase in 2024. TFI Local Link carried 4.7 million passengers, a remarkable 47% year-on-year rise. For many communities, these routes are becoming vital links to education, employment and healthcare.
Active travel growth continues, supported by more than 1,000 kilometres of new greenways and infrastructure delivered since 2020. Public bike usage has risen 51%, proving that when infrastructure is safe and joined-up, people adopt sustainable modes.
The private vehicle market is shifting rapidly, too. Electric vehicle (EV) sales jumped 51% and now represent 16% of new car sales, supported by grants and expanding charging networks. Rail and aviation are also rebounding strongly, with rail demand up 8% and Irish airports handling 41 million passengers last year.
Ireland is on track to meet 70% of its Sustainable Mobility Policy targets by the end of 2025
— but future progress rests on people as much as technology.
Sustainable mobility is within reach
Ireland is on track to meet 70% of its Sustainable Mobility Policy targets by the end of 2025 — but future progress rests on people as much as technology. The mobility transition demands new skills, competencies and continuous upskilling. CILT Mobility & Supply Chain Skillnet is already delivering subsidised, industry-led training to equip the workforce with the capabilities required for electric fleets, digital operations, sustainable logistics and multimodal integration.
As the professional body for mobility, logistics and transport, CILT Ireland will continue to drive standards, strengthen skills and support the sector through the next phase of transformation. I encourage all organisations engaged in Ireland’s mobility future to participate, collaborate and invest in the talent that will ultimately determine our success.
