Background information

The National Cycle Network (NCN) Plan is part of the Government’s commitment to sustainable transportation options and the legally binding commitment to achieve a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2023 highlights 'the need to facilitate a 50% increase in daily walking and cycling journeys as part of the transport sector’s own decarbonisation pathway'. The NCN plan aims to improve and provide the cycling infrastructure to allow these targets to be achieved. The plan was designed following input from stakeholders as well as a public consultation process.

Content of measure

The National Cycle Network (NCN) plan envisions 3,500 km of 'safe, high quality and inviting cycle routes, linking over 200 cities, towns and villages and up to 2.8 million people nationally'. The cycle network is designed in such a way to link transport hubs, centres of education, employment, leisure and tourist destinations. This should make it easier and safer for commuters and others to choose cycling as their main mode of transport. According to the plan: 'The aim is that 80% of households and nearly 90% of jobs will be located within 5 km of the network.' Implementation will be in three phases, with approximately 28% of the cycle network to be implemented by the end of 2030 and the final phase to be implemented between 2031 and 2040.

The Plan will be funded through the National Development Plan. It is expected that it will cost €677 million to fund the first two phases of the plan.

Use of measure

No information

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) Local / regional government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement

Views and reactions

N/A

Sources

• 10 January 2024: National Cycling Network will see 3,500km of safe bike corridors, connecting 2.8m people in cities and towns (www.gov.ie)
• 10 January 2024: National Cycle Network (www.gov.ie)