Paul Donnelly
Question:90. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the additional buses and service improvements that will be allocated to Dublin Bus in 2024 arising from Budget 2024. [49286/23]
View answerTuesday, 14 November 2023
Questions (90)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware, an order for 100 double deck electric buses was placed in 2022, with the vehicles scheduled for delivery in 2023. Ten of these electric buses are now being used for test/training purposes. A charging system for Summerhill Bus Depot will come on stream this month. Separately, a charging system for Phibsborough Bus Depot will be ready for operation next month. With the charging infrastructure in place at the Summerhill and Phibsborough depots, the new electric buses will be brought into operational service on an incremental basis. It is currently anticipated that the purchase of circa 70 new double-deck electric buses for Dublin will occur in 2024 subject to funding.
The revised Bus Network Redesign was published in September 2020 and roll out of the plan began in 2021 with the launch of the first two phases – the H-Spine (Howth/Malahide to City Centre) in June and the C-Spine (Lucan/Celbridge to Ringsend via City Centre) in November 2021. Phase 3 (Northern Orbital Routes – N4 Blanchardstown to Point Village and N6 Finglas to Howth Junction) and Phase 4, (the G-Spine and Route 60 (Ballyfermot/Liffey Valley/Red Cow to the Docklands via city centre)) were launched in May and October 2022 respectively. Phase 5a (the Western Orbitals) was launched in June 2023. The rollout of the Network Redesign will continue in 2024 subject to funding and driver availability.