Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Enhancing and decarbonising our public transport systems forms a key pillar of the Government's climate action strategy. Investment in public transport has increased in line with Government policy to encourage modal shift and planned capital expenditure under the national development plan favours new public transport schemes over road projects on a 2:1 ratio.

The Environmental Protection Agency's provisional 2021 emissions data demonstrate that public transport is responsible for less than 5% of Ireland’s overall transport emissions. When considered in terms of land transport emissions, road-based bus services, which carry the majority of public transport passengers, are responsible for approximately 7% of total road transport emissions.

Climate Action Plan 2021 set out our target to have 1,500 electric buses deployed in our public service obligation fleet and an expansion to the network of electrified rail services. Over the past year, my Department has been working with transport modelling teams on the identification of a pathway to achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 and these public transport measures are estimated to deliver 0.4 mega tonne of the total 6 mega tonne annual emissions reduction that is needed by 2030.

This transition has already begun. Last year 250 new hybrid buses for PSO bus fleets were delivered, which has been followed by the first orders for fully battery-electric buses which were placed in July 2021 and March 2022. That will see these 45 single-deck buses and 120 double-deck buses, respectively, delivered by end year.

We have also engaged in the purchase of the first battery-electric rail services, which will have a significant role in improving the public transport service. Thirteen five-car battery-electric units and six five-car electric multiple units were ordered in December 2021 and I expect to do more. I look forward to the Deputy's feedback. That on its own will not be enough. As I said in response to a question from Deputy Naughten earlier, we will need to go further with a range of actions to meet our target. I would happily discuss that further with the Deputy.

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