Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2021
86. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the number of public buses that have been purchased annually since 2015; the number of buses it is planned to purchase in 2022 and 2023; the number of those purchased since 2015 that have two wheelchair spaces; the plans there are to retrofit buses with only one wheelchair space to create two wheelchair spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33936/21]
View answerAs 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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the procurement of the national PSO bus fleet.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the NTA publishes a comprehensive statistical bulletin in relation to publicly subvented bus and rail services each year on its website as can be viewed through this link:
www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NTA-Bus-and-Rail-Statistics-Final-for-Web.pdf
The bulletin includes details of the number of buses in the fleet and details of the percentage of the fleet that is wheelchair accessible.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter and the specific issues raised which are not covered in the published documentation, 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.
