John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 540: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if bus services provided by independent operators (details supplied) in County Kilkenny on agreed routes servicing such locations as Kilkenny City will be included as part of the consideration under PSO; if he intends to give grant aid under a sustainable public transport iniative to assist operators in the purchase of natural gas vehicles; if he has had discussions with bus operators regarding this matter; the plans he has, if any, to assist in the funding of the roll out of natural gas vehicle fuelling depots; if he will fund local authorities to assist their plans for use of such vehicles by private operators as part of a local public transport network strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33122/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Matters relating to the consideration of PSO contracts, discussions with bus operators regarding government support and the development of local public transport network strategies fall within the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have therefore referred these elements of the Deputy's question to the NTA for their direct reply. Please advise my office if you have not received a response within 10 working days.

There are currently no funding streams within my Department from which funding support of the type envisaged for local authorities or public transport operators could be made available. Grant assistance towards the purchase of vehicles using alternative energy technologies and matters relating to the natural gas grid and supply are matters for agencies and companies within the remit of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources that he has been informed by Bord Gáis Networks (BGN) that they are actively working with Bus Eireann on a trial to be launched in Cork soon to use CNG within Bus Eireann's city fleet.