Minister O'Brien publishes ambitious plan to increase climate resilience in transport

Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, today published the Transport Sectoral Adaptation Plan (T-SAP II). This strategic document is designed to help Ireland’s transport system build long-term resilience, and better respond to climate-related impact that is already happening or projected to happen in the future. This includes preparing for storms,  floods, heatwaves, sea-level rise, and other climate-related events. 
Extreme weather disrupts journeys, damages infrastructure, and puts pressure on how we plan, build, and maintain our transport systems. Making transport more climate-resilient is essential for public safety, continuity of service, and long-term sustainability.
Minister O’Brien said: 
“Ireland’s climate is changing. We’re seeing more frequent and more intense storms, flooding, coastal surges and rising sea levels. These events can disrupt services, damage infrastructure and increase long-term risks, not just for transport, but for our entire communities.  
“Adaptation means preparing for these changes by building resilience into our transport systems now, so that we can safeguard critical infrastructure and keep people and goods moving into the future.”
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, said: 
“Transport safety is a key priority for the Department. As we face a changing climate, building climate resilience will be key to ensuring the safe operation of Ireland’s transport infrastructure into the future, including our country’s ports and rail links. 
“Irish ports are already ensuring that new and updated infrastructure will be ever more resilient to climate change impacts to ensure operations can continue to the greatest extent possible. 
“In addition, the rail network is something that so many of us rely upon on a daily basis to get to work or, visit family and friends. It’s vitally important we do everything we can to make sure it remains fit for purpose well into the future.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, said: 
“Transport is vital to the functioning of Ireland’s rural communities, supporting the movement of people and goods and providing access to essential services. Adaptation planning is critical to ensure transport infrastructure and services are resilient the effects of climate change.”
This Plan was developed in consultation with key stakeholders and the public under the umbrella of the National Adaptation Framework. It outlines how Ireland’s transport system can adapt to future climate risks across roads, rail, ports, airports, public transport, and active travel. 
The Plan sets a roadmap for 2025 to 2030 to achieve this objective. It identifies 40 key actions that were co-developed by the Department, transport operators and other stakeholders, to respond to the risks for transport identified through detailed climate change risk assessment. 
It is an ambitious and essential plan, underpinned by the most up-to-date climate science and risk assessments, including Ireland’s first National Climate Change Risk Assessment. It incorporates expert insights that guide ways of adapting across all modes of transport.. It builds on adaptation planning and action in the transport sector since 2019, when the first such plan (T-SAP I) was published. It reflects Ireland’s current and future transport infrastructure needs and climate priorities.