David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his view on exchanging his Ministerial car for a hybrid vehicle, or a car that runs entirely on bio fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13410/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which organises the purchase of the Ministerial Fleet through the Government Supplies Agency, has purchased 5 hybrid cars for the Ministerial Fleet, one of which has been assigned to me. Factors such as fuel efficiency and safety are taken into account in making purchases for the Ministerial Fleet. Hybrid vehicles which are electric/petrol combination vehicles have significantly better fuel consumption and significantly reduced emissions compared to equivalent conventional models.

More generally and in accordance with the National Climate Change Strategy, which I launched earlier this week, the Government is developing a Sustainable Transport Action Plan under which public sector fleet operators will be required to publish strategies to reduce emissions from their fleets including the increased use of biofuels.