Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of buses currently in service in the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fleets that run on alternative fuels; the percentage of the total fuel used that is alternative fuel in each case of a bus that uses alternative fuel; and the number of buses currently in service in the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fleets that use hybrid engines. [34383/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked CIE to move to using a 5% biodiesel blend in current CIE vehicles and to plan for a 30% blend in new vehicles. My Department is working with CIE to establish how these targets can be achieved in the shortest timeframe possible. Both Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have been undertaking trials on the use of biofuels. Bus Éireann is piloting the use of bio-diesel produced from recovered vegetable oil in part of its Cork City tours fleet. Dublin Bus uses bio-diesel made from such oil on a trial basis in five open-top tour buses, which have been operating without any technical difficulties. Part of the Transport 21 investment programme will also bring more fuel efficiency to the public transport fleet.

All 239 buses currently on order, or about to be ordered, will have Euro IV engines which are more fuel efficient. In addition, Dublin Bus will be leasing a prototype hybrid electric double-decker bus in 2008 on a trial basis. It is estimated that this vehicle can achieve 34% less fuel consumption than a standard bus. Dublin Bus will consider the further acquisition of hybrid electric vehicles as part of future fleet replacement. I have also announced the preparation of a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan, which will set out a broad suite of policies and measures to help the transport sector progress along a more sustainable trajectory and make a further contribution to reducing emissions to 2020.