As environmental and economic concerns grow, mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) may be one of the green solutions for transport emissions in Ireland.

Transport in Dublin

Alan Murphy, Smart Dublin Regional Manager likened MaaS to the equivalents of IT hardware and software. ‘In the transport world, the hardware components are trains, buses, and taxis’.

‘MaaS introduces the software layer to digitally integrate those mobility services.’

Smart Dublin brings together technology providers, academia, and citizens to transform public services and enhance the quality of life

Founded by the four Dublin Local Authorities, their goal is to future-proof the Dublin region by trailing and scaling innovative solutions to a wide range of local challenges.

From tackling the climate crisis to bridging the digital divide, they believe that through collaboration and innovation we can build a better, more resilient Dublin.

According to, Inrix 2020, the Global Traffic Scoreboard, Dubliner’s lose 246 hours per year in traffic (pre-Covid-19).

Micro-mobility transport within Ireland

‘If MaaS is the software layer, if somebody wants to plan a journey from A to B, you’re presented with the right information at the right time to plan your journey’ said Murphy.

In February of this year, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan approved to draft of new legislation on personal powered transportation (e.g. e-scooters and e-bikes)

The approval of this draft legislation and associated guidelines will see users of e-scooters on Irish roads not be required to show proof of tax, insurance, or a driver’s license.

This decision gives the option to a greener and cheaper mode of transport, in turn encouraging the reduction in traffic and emissions.

Company Investment

As Ireland takes steps to update its transportation services and offer more variety as to mobility options, e-scooter companies are also taking this as an opportunity to expand.

Bird is the most recent company to take an interest in Irelands new green option and plans to launch a fleet of scooters once legislation is passed.

The Dublin Councils, however, will award licenses to certain operators based on a formal evaluation process.

However, Bird will have competition, with other companies like Tier and Dott and two Irish companies, Zipp Mobility and Zeus all preparing to launch fleets in Ireland.

Concerns

The possible future launch of e-scooters however has come with concerns.

The Department of Justice reported in the last year there had been over 30 collisions with e-scooters.

To prevent collisions of this type there have been talks in the Irish Government regarding the legislation to consider an age limit on the scooters.

With the increased interest by regulated companies to launch e-scooters in Ireland, people have also voiced their concerns about unused e-scooters at charging stations cluttering areas.

Mobility-as-a-service

‘The main reason for public transport, the main reason for any shared mobility scheme, is to try to get people out of using private cars’ said Murphy.

While Irish taxis typically don’t use electric vehicles, they still reduce emissions by reducing private car ownership and encouraging carpooling.

Free Now, the popular ride-hail service, plans to go greener by investing six million euros n to encouraging drivers to go electric.

The company says it will match grant funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to help Irish drivers purchase home charging equipment.

Taxi drivers also benefit since rideshare apps cover 100% of accident insurance on top of paying them for their work.

The Future

Smart Dublin plans to produce a MaaS report for Ireland in June, outlining why MaaS makes sense for Ireland, a proposed model for MaaS, and key actions to implement MaaS.

‘The model we’re suggesting is a public-led model which we believe is the most appropriate model to deliver the expected societal goals when it comes to mobility’ said Murphy.