Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether all future provision of urban-style bus services should use electric buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5558/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to a requirement that all new urban buses be electric hybrid or electric.

In that regard I very much welcome the National Transport Authority’s announcement in December in relation to the launch of a procurement process for electric buses. As I stated at the time I think the introduction of zero emission buses will help reduce air pollution, improve public health and improve access to public transport for people of all abilities.

While that announcement was primarily in relation to the bus fleets in major urban centres across the five cities, I understand that the NTA is exploring options with regard to similar such procurement frameworks in relation to town bus fleets, such as those referred to by the Deputy and referred in the response already provided by the NTA.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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118. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be made available to secure provision of an urban-style bus service in Carlow town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5559/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.  

The Covid-19 health emergency has had a profound and swift shock to the public transport sector.  Public transport’s designation as an essential service throughout the pandemic means, that although fare revenues have collapsed, most of the cost of operations remains and must continue to be met in order to fulfil Government’s broader policy objectives.  Government support for all public transport services in 2020 amounted to over €620m.  For 2021 over €670m has been provided in funding in order to ensure that the existing level of public transport services, albiet at a higher cost, continue to operate in a safe manner. By comparision, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government does commit to the introduction of new services, including new town services, in order to improve public transport connectivity. I intend to pursue additional funding for such services in the context of the Programme for Government during 2021.