Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the procurement for the electrification of bus depots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18499/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Electric buses produce no tailpipe emissions and offer reduced interior and exterior noise levels compared to diesel buses. This transition to electric buses will help provide in cleaner air and less noise pollution in areas where the buses are operating, while also providing a quieter journey for passengers.

Charging points in bus depots and electric buses have started rolling out in recent years. In January 2023, the first full electrification of a town bus service was launched in Athlone under our Pathfinder Programme, paving the way for a similar transition in other services across Ireland. There are over 100 double-deck electric buses operating in service in Dublin and 34 electric buses in service in Limerick. Further electric buses will continue to roll out on an incremental basis over the coming years.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitments to make the planning system more efficient for delivery of major transport infrastructure that would help reduce carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18500/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Measures to make the planning system more efficient for delivery of infrastructure are primarily a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation.

From a transport policy perspective, more integrated land use and transport planning, including transport orientated development, is a key objective in a number of national policies, including the National Planning Framework. As planning and development are interdependent, the integration of land uses with access to transport has cross-cutting benefits in terms of achieving compact patterns of development, facilitating increased densities in accessible locations, and enabling the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society by encouraging sustainable mobility, the transition to electric vehicles, and active travel initiatives.

One of the ten goals of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy is to better integrate land use and transport planning at all levels to support the National Strategic Outcomes of the National Planning Framework relating to compact growth, sustainable mobility and transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society. As per Climate Action Plan 2023, improvements to our Public Transport services and infrastructure, including delivery of major transport infrastructure, all have the potential to increase the modal share of public transport and reduce overall car dependency, and will play a key role in reducing emissions from the transport sector. The Climate Action Plan 2024 also highlights the importance of embedding transport orientated development (TOD) at all stages of planning and development,

In line with this, the Programme for Government 2025 commits to supporting the development of transport orientated development(TOD), as necessary, to enable the better integration of land use and transport planning at all levels.

This commitment is supported by the joint working group established under the Government’s Housing for All plan to consider opportunities for TOD in major urban centres in December 2021. The group comprises membership from both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Transport, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Land Development Agency (LDA). The working group published a report on TOD opportunities in Dublin in June 2023 and reports on Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and the Eastern Region are at finalisation stage and will be brought to Cabinet shortly for information and publication thereafter.

This is supported at metropolitan level through the development and implementation of metropolitan area transport strategies. The strategies set out programmes of proposed transport investment in active travel, bus and rail for each metropolitan area over a 20-year period and they have been developed in line with the National Planning Framework and the regional spatial and economic strategies. This approach provides the necessary evidence-based and plan-led framework that can guide investment in the five cities over the short, medium and longer term.