Ireland adopts EU rules for intelligent transport systems

Ireland has adopted the European Union Intelligent Transport Systems Regulations 2026, published as S.I. No. 445 of 2026 in the Iris Oifigiúil of Tuesday, 1 September 2026. The Regulations give effect to Directive (EU) 2023/2661 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023, which amends the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in road transport.

The instrument was made by the Minister for Transport, Mr Darragh O’Brien, T.D., in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 (No. 27 of 1972). It is the national step that brings the revised EU framework into Irish law, aligning domestic rules with the Union’s agenda for connected and automated mobility.

What the Regulations cover

The Regulations transpose the amended EU framework for Intelligent Transport Systems, which governs the deployment of ITS services in the field of road transport and their interfaces with other modes of transport. The underlying EU instrument, Directive 2010/40/EU, was recast by Directive (EU) 2023/2661 to keep pace with technological change and to support interoperability across the single market.

The framework covers the deployment of ITS services and applications across road transport.
It provides for interfaces with other modes of transport to enable seamless multimodal journeys.
It establishes the legal basis for connected and automated mobility services on Irish roads.

Legal basis and entry into force

The Regulations are made under the European Communities Act 1972, the standard vehicle for transposing EU law into Irish domestic legislation. The instrument is published in Section I of the gazette and is available for purchase from Government Publications, Mountshannon Road, Kilmainham, Dublin, at a price of €6.50.

The adoption follows the EU’s revision of the ITS framework, which was agreed by the European Parliament and the Council in November 2023. By transposing the directive, Ireland aligns its national rules with the common EU approach to intelligent transport, ensuring that ITS services deployed in the State are compatible with those across the Union.

What it means for road users

For Irish road users, the Regulations lay the groundwork for a more connected and automated transport network, where vehicles, infrastructure and traffic-management systems can exchange data in a coordinated way. The framework is designed to improve road safety, reduce congestion and support more efficient and sustainable mobility.

The publication of S.I. No. 445 of 2026 marks a concrete step in Ireland’s implementation of the EU’s digital transport agenda, bringing the legal certainty needed for operators, authorities and technology providers to deploy ITS services across the country.

Source: Iris Oifigiúil, No. 70, 1 September 2026, Section I, p. [G-2] (official reference: S.I. No. 445 of 2026).