Transport at the centre of infrastructure investment
Against a backdrop of population growth, infrastructure deficits, and increasing pressure on national productivity, transport emerged as one of the most significant beneficiaries of the revised capital investment framework in the 2025 revision of the National Development Plan (NDP).
The review commits €22.33 billion in exchequer capital funding to the transport sector between 2026 and 2030, representing the second-largest departmental allocation in the NDP after housing. Annual transport capital expenditure is to increase from €3.43 billion in 2026 to €5.13 billion by 2030.
The Government’s wider transport investment commitment extends beyond voted expenditure. The review confirms that €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) will be allocated to support low-carbon transport infrastructure, most notably MetroLink.
Transport investment is closely linked to the NDP’s overarching objective of enabling the delivery of 300,000 additional homes by 2030. The review identifies transport, alongside water and energy infrastructure, as critical enabling infrastructure necessary to unlock housing development and support future economic growth. In this context, transport funding has been prioritised according to its contribution to housing delivery, regional development, and competitiveness.
The review also highlights the importance of transport in achieving Ireland’s climate commitments. Under the Climate Action Plan, the transport sector is required to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared with 2018 levels. Capital investment in public transport, active travel infrastructure, and low-carbon mobility projects is a key mechanism for delivering national decarbonisation targets.
Significantly, the review points to a strong record of delivery under the previous NDP period. Since 2021, Ireland has delivered approximately 170km of new roads, including major projects such as the New Ross Bypass, Dunkettle Interchange, N22 Macroom scheme, and the N5 Westport-Turlough project.
In parallel, approximately 660km of new walking infrastructure, 400km of cycling infrastructure, and 220km of greenways have been completed.
