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

The Deputy is absolutely right on the taxi fleet. That is one area where we can make significant changes. Because taxis are used extensively, as well as the vehicles themselves if they switch over, the kilometres they do as a percentage of our overall kilometres is significant. In that regard there are encouraging signs showing we can change. We introduced very generous grants for the switchover. Already 1,177 fully electric taxis, 3,300 hybrid taxis and 40 plug-in hybrid taxis have been introduced into the taxi fleet, representing 24% of the fleet. The taxi drivers using them realise that their running costs and maintenance costs which are important for the taxi industry are a fraction of the fossil fuel alternative.

Regarding the fleet, I agree we need to look at the technology, but we also need to look at the usage particularly of buses. Part of the problem is that those buses are caught in traffic just like all other vehicles. Traffic in Dublin was intense yesterday for a variety of reasons. We need to give buses the space. It is not just the technology, but also their turnaround speed. The efficiency of passenger kilometres because of the buses being used more often is key.

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