Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has undertaken a review of the availability of charging points for electric buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43067/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there are currently two separate initiatives underway to install electric charging points for bus.

The EU Just Transition Fund is seeking to address the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned and to promote a balanced socio-economic transition. One of its key priorities in Ireland is providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition. The EU Just Transition Fund is targeted at the Midlands area and the designated territory for this fund includes the counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, as well as the municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Galway), Carrick on Suir, Thurles (Tipperary), Athy, and Clane-Maynooth (Kildare).

The decarbonisation of public local rural bus route(s) is proposed as an action, including the installation of charging points for electric buses and the purchase of electric buses. My Department is currently engaged with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the EU Commission to finalise the implementation proposals.

Separately, the NTA is finalising the rollout of two electric buses on TFI Local Link services in the Dingle area and this includes the provision of charging points for these electric buses.