John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Ireland has, or intends to, access funding from the European Investment Bank’s Clean Bus Initiative; and if commercial bus operators in Ireland will be supported to avail of this finance under this initiative. [41424/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the electrification of public transport.

The Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the public transport sector in line with the Climate Action Plan. No new diesel-only buses have been purchased for urban public service obligation bus fleets since July 2019, as set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The transition to a zero-emission urban bus fleet is currently programmed to take up until 2035, based on replacement of non-zero-emission buses as they reach the end of their efficient service lives. The initial stages of the transition will focus upon the deployment of battery-electric buses, and two framework agreements are in place for the supply of new single-deck and double-deck battery-electric urban buses.

The first order of 100 double deck electric buses for the Dublin network was placed in 2022 and over 90 of these are currently in service in Dublin. An additional 50 have been accepted by the NTA, and a further 70 have been ordered.

Furthermore, in April this year, Limerick’s city bus service, operated by Bus Éireann, became Ireland’s first fully electric/low-emission regional city bus service. 34 double deck electric buses have been brought into service in the city with more to enter service in the coming years.

Under the Sustainable Mobility Policy Pathfinder Programme, a fully electric town bus service, with 11 new single-deck battery-electric buses, is now operating in Athlone.

The electrification of the urban bus network has been funded through exchequer resources. My Department will continue to consider other potential funding options, but at this time funding has not been sought from the EIB to support bus electrification for public or private operators.