Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It would amount to multiples of the cost. We are considering the matter very closely with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to see what further progress can be made.

With regard to the overall public transport network, the answers are obvious but still worth stating. We must try to make our buses as environmentally friendly as possible. Services such as the Luas and a metro could have a very positive effect on the carbon-emitting potential of the public transport network. With respect to the broader use of alternative fuel sources, the Minister for Communications, Energy an Natural Resources, Deputy White, and I have just launched a very short consultation period - it is short because we want action - on the changes we can make that would lead to the broader use of alternative fuels for private car use. We would be able to make a gain with regard to emissions by making our transport system more environmentally friendly but a bigger challenge now is how we make use of private cars more environmentally friendly. Some progress has been made with electric cars but it is not enough and their usage is still low when compared with what we hoped or expected. As the technology relating to electric cars and hybrid vehicles improves on an almost monthly basis, we will review our policy in the area to see if there are steps that the Government can take to encourage more people to use those vehicles.