Ireland’s updated National Development Plan (NDP), to be signed off by the government today, has detailed a series of projects aimed at enhancing transport, aviation, and tourism infrastructure across the country.
With a focus on sustainability and connectivity, the plan allocates substantial funding to improve how people move and connect, both domestically and internationally. Here’s a look at the key initiatives set to shape Ireland’s future.
Transport
The NDP commits €35bn over the next decade to transform travel options. A major project is the MetroLink in Dublin, a high-capacity rail corridor from Charlemont to Swords via Dublin Airport, designed to integrate with existing rail, bus, and Luas services for a seamless public transport network.
The DART programme will extend commuter rail services to Maynooth, Celbridge, and Drogheda, improving frequency and capacity in the Greater Dublin Area. BusConnects will roll out enhanced bus services and segregated cycleways in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford, aiming to support 500,000 additional daily sustainable journeys by 2030.
dditionally, €360m annually will fund 1,000 km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025, including greenways to encourage active travel.
For rural areas, the Connecting Ireland initiative will expand local bus services, linking communities to key towns and regional centres.
The plan also allocates €8bn for the protection and renewal of national, regional, and local roads, alongside €1bn for public-private partnership payments. Specific road projects include the M50 Traffic Control and Management upgrade in Dublin, the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge works in Roscommon, and the N21/69 Limerick to Foynes project.
Aviation
In aviation, the NDP invests €2.4bn in state and regional airports to bolster international connectivity while pursuing carbon neutrality. Cork and Shannon airports will receive support as key gateways for tourism and business, with funding to enhance infrastructure. Smaller regional airports, including Ireland West Airport Knock, Donegal, Kerry and potentially Waterford,, will benefit from the Regional Airports Programme to maintain their roles in regional connectivity.
A €230m investment will strengthen aviation and maritime safety and security, while a new Irish Coast Guard Aviation Services Contract, backed by €165m, will introduce fixed-wing aircraft to support search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and medical services.
Tourism
Tourism benefits from the focus on greenways, with €63m allocated in 2023 for projects like the Grand Canal Greenway, Clifden to Recess, Clew Bay, Waterford to New Ross, and Navan to Kingscourt. These routes aim to attract cyclists and walkers, boosting local economies and promoting sustainable tourism.
Port companies will invest nearly €500m over five years to enhance maritime connectivity, with infrastructure to support offshore renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, aligning tourism with environmental goals.
