Ireland has secured over €26 million in EU funding to enhance transport infrastructure. Led by Irish Rail, projects include upgrades to Rosslare port and climate resilience research along the Dublin-Rosslare rail line, supporting greener freight routes and protecting coastal connectivity—all part of the EU’s wider drive for sustainable transport.
Ireland is set to benefit from over €26 million in EU funding for major transport infrastructure initiatives, with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) receiving nearly €22 million to lead two significant projects focused on climate adaptation and sustainable connectivity. This investment is part of the EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport, a programme that supports the development of modern, interoperable, and green transport systems across the EU.
The bulk of Ireland’s funding—€19.2 million—is going towards the Green Drift project, a climate-focused project led by Irish Rail and centred on Rosslare port. The project aims to upgrade infrastructure at this key maritime hub in Co. Wexford, including:
Installation of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ramps and berths to support larger vessels
Development of onshore power connections at Rosslare and at the port of Dunkirk, France, enabling docked vessels to plug into cleaner shore electricity instead of burning fuel
Improving climate resilience and sustainability at ports linked by the Rosslare-Dunkirk shipping corridor
These changes are intended to reduce maritime emissions, support the EU’s climate targets, and enhance the resilience of freight routes critical to Ireland’s post-Brexit logistics landscape.
In a separate initiative, Irish Rail will lead the East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Project (ECRIPP), which received €2.7 million in the 2024 funding call. The goal is to research and develop mitigation strategies for climate threats—particularly erosion and flooding—that jeopardise a 65km stretch of coastal railway between Dublin and Rosslare.
This section of the rail line, part of Ireland’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and sea-level rise. ECRIPP aims to enhance long-term connectivity, reduce service disruptions, and safeguard the route’s contribution to regional mobility.
In addition to the two nationally led projects, Ireland is also participating in three multinational initiatives that received CEF funding:
Clean ATM 3 – modernising air traffic management across Europe
ATN Multilink Expansion in European Airspace – enhancing the integration and interoperability of European airspace systems
Verkko – deploying intelligent transport systems (ITS), with Transport Infrastructure Ireland among the partners
These projects reflect Ireland’s growing role in shaping smart, sustainable, and digitally enabled transport systems across the continent.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien TD highlighted the strategic significance of the investments, noting they support the resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of Ireland’s transport network.
“These projects were selected from 265 applications across Europe, showing their contribution to the continued development of the trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in Ireland. This is the backbone of our European Single Market. These projects will pave the way for our delivery of a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable transport system” he said.
Minister of State Seán Canney added that the success of Irish Rail and Rosslare Europort under the CEF call was particularly important:
“Roll-On/Roll-Off traffic on Rosslare–EU routes has grown at a faster pace than at any other port, with trade with continental Europe having increased by 398% over the past three years. As an island nation, it is crucial that we support this increase in activity by building resilience and sustainability into our ports, as the Green Drift project will aim to achieve.”
Finally, this latest CEF funding round is part of a wider €2.8 billion EU investment supporting over 90 transport projects across Europe, with nearly 80% allocated to rail initiatives. For Ireland, this funding reinforces the strategic importance of both adapting to climate change and ensuring strong physical connections with the rest of Europe.
These projects are not just infrastructure upgrades—they are long-term investments in the environmental resilience, economic security, and operational reliability of Ireland’s transport system.
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