John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will encourage State companies, particularly transport companies, to use gas, biodiesel or fuel cells to reduce air pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter [1149/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a new hydrogen refuelling plant for buses is being built in Hornchurch, England, as part of an EU initiative for buses; if there are plans for a similar plant here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 593 together.

I understand that a hydrogen refuelling plant for buses is being built by an energy supply company in England as part of a pilot scheme under the European Union's clean urban transport for Europe, CUTE, initiative, which runs until 2006 and which is aimed at exploring the application of hydrogen cell technology to public transport buses. I am not aware of any current plans to build a similar plant in Ireland.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. To facilitate the formulation of a national biofuels policy, that Department has established an interdepartmental biofuels group, in which my Department participates. I understand that the application of new energy technologies, including gas, biodiesel and fuel cells, to public transport vehicles may have potential to reduce air pollution, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and merit serious consideration if it represents a viable alternative to fossil fuels. However, particularly in view of the fact that this is an emerging area, a range of issues, including fuel supply and distribution issues, require consideration before a decision is made to adopt such technologies.

I am informed that Dublin Bus continually monitors the progress of hydrogen fuel cell buses and other developments in alternative fuels and emission reduction strategies. My Department will be examining this complex area, in consultation with the relevant public transport companies, in the context of the interdepartmental biofuels group and the wider exploration of ways of reducing emissions of the transport sector.