John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. He indicated that trials are ongoing. My understanding is that they should have started sooner. He concluded by saying that a contract will be awarded later this year. Will that contract be awarded on foot of the trials being completed analysed and reviewed? I understand 150 buses are on order and will be in situbefore July. The Minister has made the commitment that from July all the buses will be low-emission vehicles. I ask the Minister to confirm that the 150 on order at the moment are diesel buses. Will they be in use for the next decade or longer?

The Minister has indicated that they might be all electric or hybrid. The key point is that we are coming to this late in the day. For quite a period of time we have been listening to talk of trials and putting them on the road. Those trials are only taking place now. Why are we only at this stage with trials?

See this speech in context