Dáil debates

Thursday, 9 July 2009

12:00 pm

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make future funding to CIE contingent on the company producing a strategy for ensuring a more sustainable fleet and for progress in implementing the Deloitte report on bus efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28527/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Public service contracts with the CIE companies are due to be in place by early December. My Department will consider the inclusion in those contracts of provisions relating to emission standards to be met by buses and rail rolling stock and the implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report relating to the bus companies. A number of initiatives have already been undertaken across the three companies to ensure more sustainable fleets.

The complete renewal of rail rolling stock, funded under Transport 21 and earlier investment programmes, has resulted in a more fuel-efficient fleet, which generates less emissions. Iarnród Éireann has also in the past two years achieved energy savings of 26% through the use of regenerative braking on its DART fleet. Iarnród Éireann also has fitted fuel shut-down modifications to much of the diesel fleet, thereby saving 3.5 million litres of diesel per annum.

Transport 21 also has facilitated the introduction by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann of buses and coaches meeting EU Euro 4 standards. Both companies have been using bio-diesel in their tour fleets since 2006 and Dublin Bus is currently piloting a hybrid electric bus. The Government's Smarter Travel policy, which I published in February 2009, provides that all public transport providers will prepare a plan for fleet replacement based on the most sustainable vehicle and fuel type.

The position in respect of the recommendations of the Deloitte report is that both Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann have commenced implementation including, in the case of Dublin Bus, a complete review and redesign of its network to better meet the needs of its customers. The implementation of recommendations in the report relating to bus priority, integrated ticketing, bus licensing and the move to public service obligation, PSO, contracts are being pursued actively by my Department in conjunction with the key stakeholders

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's reply. Will a percentage limit be placed on such companies? In other words, will an obligation be placed on the companies in order that, for example, 80% of their vehicles must use bio-fuels? What criteria will the Minister apply?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has asked CIE to have a blend of at least 5%.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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That is what was originally proposed.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, that is what was originally proposed in the programme for Government. CIE purchases fuel for all three companies and its supplier has confirmed that in many cases, a 5% blend is applied by the fuel companies. In addition, both Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have sought and received assurances that their new buses will be able to accommodate a 30% blend without affecting their warranty. They are pursuing the goal that any new buses will have a usage of 30%

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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While I welcome the thrust of the response to the question, would it not be advisable to make provision in the new legislation for all bus operators to be obliged to have more sustainable fleets, in order that the low CO2 emissions required of the captive fleets of the national companies would be applicable to all companies? I note in particular that recently, both Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus bought large new fleets contingent on the expansion of their service but the Minister then peremptorily, and as part of the Government cutbacks, slashed their allocations and forced them to rely on older fleets. Is this not part of the problem? Will the Minister include in the legislation a requirement to make it incumbent on all public transport operators to have more sustainable fleets?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It is quite to the contrary. The fact that Dublin Bus now operates with fewer buses than it used to recently-----

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The service has worsened. One now waits for 20 minutes instead of waiting for ten minutes.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The average age of the fleet has been improved-----

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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It now will begin to decline.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the company now has buses that are much more fuel-efficient.

I will make one point in this regard. Costs must be taken into account and the cost of bio-fuel increased by 46% last year. This factor must be taken into account.