Ireland 'exposed' over use of fossil fuels for transport

Updated / Wednesday, Motorists need confidence to transition from petrol and diesel, the report said Aaron McElroy '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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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%. 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. 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. Fossil fuel shocks "are not one-off events" and giving alternatives is the way to reduce exposure to shocks, said Alex White, CCAC Chairperson. "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. "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." More stories on News Ireland Business Climate Change É On Climate.