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

Let us keep it simple. I will stick to buses because I do not have enough time to deal with rail in the time available to me. The Minister previously stated a comprehensive set of vehicle trials would inform the purchasing decisions for new buses over the coming years. He went on to state, "The technologies likely to be tested include full electrification, diesel-electric hybrids and compressed natural gas". Have those trials taken place? How many buses, of what types, have undergone trials?

The Minister stated his intention that by 2023, more than 600 non-diesel low emission buses would be purchased, which is welcome. As is always the problem when we ask such questions, however, he has not given any indication on a year-by-year basis of how we might get to 600. He talked about fleet replacement but apart from the buses currently on trial, will low emission vehicles be purchased and on the road in Dublin this year? If so, how many will there be and what will be the number for next year?

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