Written answers

Wednesday, 28 February 2007

Department of Transport

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

10:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of vehicles which will benefit from supports funded by his Department to convert to bio-fuels; when this scheme will commence; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7816/07]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with the Bus Éireann regarding requirement to use 5% biofuel mix; the duration of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8025/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 219 together.

The Department of Transport has recently funded a scheme to convert 50 selected vehicles to run on pure plant oil, PPO, which is being carried out under the aegis of the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The cost to the Department is €227,000 and provides for 75% of the cost of engine modification.

Decisions about successful applications are being made in April with the view to obtaining a diverse mix of transport operators and the project will conclude in November. It is expected that this scheme will be complementary to the Minerals Oil Tax Relief, MOTR, Scheme II and will help develop a sustainable indigenous network of localized PPO supply chains in Ireland.

Bus Éireann have been using bio-diesel made from recovered vegetable oil, RVO, in its Cork City tours fleet since April 2006 while Dublin Bus have used 5% bio-diesel blend on a trial basis in 5 open-top tour buses since May 2006.

These trials have proceeded without technical difficulties and I have instructed public transport providers, under the auspices of CIE, to operate their entire existing fleet on a 5% bio-diesel blend in as short a time-frame as is possible.

In addition, Dublin Bus have secured a commitment from the relevant engine manufacturer, Volvo, that would allow new buses to be modified to operate on a 30% biofuel mix without affecting the warranty. Therefore, I have requested the Chairman of CIE to set out the steps required to move toward these targets and I expect an action plan from the company, which will include estimated costs for this initiative. It is my intention that all new vehicles procured, as part of fleet replacement by CIE from 2008, will be capable of operating on a 30% bio-diesel blend.

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