Ms Deirdre Hanlon:

The Deputy asked about the strategy for the rural transport initiative. A strategy was published by the National Transport Authority which runs the scheme on our behalf. It is a relatively new strategy, published within the past 18 months, and it shows the level of ambition there is for the expansion of the services. The types of changes and improvements made in recent times are indicative of the trajectory of change that is hoped for over time, as funds allow.

As for the policy for public transport in rural areas, we decided to fold in that work with the wider work I mentioned earlier on a general review of public transport. Among the set of papers the Department published a couple of weeks ago at the launch of the strategy by the Minister, there is a specific one on transport in rural areas. It examines the nature of how and why people travel and the types of facilities that are available and of challenges that are emerging. It is one of the issues on which we are out to public consultation. We ran a stakeholder event last week, attended by a number of stakeholders in the transport sector, that included a workshop specifically on the question of rural transport. We expect to receive a great deal of feedback on the issue in the course of the public consultation, which will inform the policy stance in the years ahead.

The Deputy asked about two offices the NTA is establishing, namely, a cycle office and a park-and-ride office, two initiatives identified as actions under the climate action plan. The cycle office was required to be in place by the end of the first quarter, which finished at the end of September, and it has been set up by the NTA. It has helped to engender some momentum, overcome some blockages and bring some coherence and cohesiveness to the area of active travel and the cycling component thereof. The park-and-ride office is required to be set up in this quarter, which the NTA has undertaken. We expect that when we report on this quarter at some point in January, that aim will have been achieved.

The Deputy also asked about rail stations. The policy for the rail network is that the first priority in rail is maintenance of the existing network, and ensuring that the existing network is at a standard and quality that will allow it to continue to work properly. This is informed by international research and support we have received on the most important areas where we can spend the considerable investment we make in rail, through continuation, best use and maximising utilisation of the existing asset. That is the Government policy for that area.

On the question about electric buses and the transition to greener technology in the public transport fleet, I will ask my colleague, Ms Behan, who is head of the climate change unit within the Department, to answer.