Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to buy new buses for the Dublin Bus fleet; if such buses will give additional capacity or just replace existing buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34063/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and for securing the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) public transport services.

 Funding is provided annually for the renewal of the PSO bus fleet.  Under the Capital Plan funding in excess of €500 million is being allocated for the bus replacement programme over the period 2016-2022.  The bus replacement programme will ensure a modern, reliable, comfortable and accessible PSO fleet and will help reduce the average age and associated maintenance costs of the fleet.

  As part of Budget 2017, I announced that funding would be provided next year that will facilitate the purchase of 110 new buses for the PSO bus fleet for the Dublin region.  This will allow for replacement of older vehicles and will also cater for increased demand.  The extent to which these buses will be used to replace older vehicles or to expand the current PSO fleet will be determined by the NTA taking account of demand.