Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2024
191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the decarbonisation of the public transport sector continues towards the meeting of targets; the incentives currently available or likely to become available to the private sector in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29068/24]
View answerAs 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 emissions and offer reduced interior and exterior noise levels compared to diesel buses. This transition to electric buses will result in cleaner air and less noise pollution in areas where the buses are operating, while also providing a quieter journey for passengers.
Under the National Development Plan 2021-2030, BusConnects programmes will be substantially delivered in all of Ireland’s five cities by the end of the decade. BusConnects consists of designated Core Bus Corridors, a bus network redesign, the implementation of Next Generation Ticketing and fleet electrification.
In January 2023, the first full electrification of a town bus service was launched in Athlone under our Pathfinder Programme, providing clean and green public transport services for the town, and paving the way for a similar transition in other services across Ireland.
An order for 100 double deck electric buses was placed in 2022 with the vehicles scheduled for delivery in 2023. There are over 60 battery-electric double-deck buses available for service at Summerhill Depot and Phibsbourough Depot. Together, the charging infrastructure at Phibsborough and Summerhill will provide charging for a minimum of 136 electric buses. The remaining buses are expected to enter service in the coming weeks. Additional charging infrastructure is being procured to allow for more electric buses to enter service in the coming years.
Additionally, 34 electric buses entered service in Limerick earlier this year.
Currently, the DART network in Dublin is the only electrified part of the Irish rail network, approximately 50km running from Malahide/Howth to the City Centre and southward to Greystones. Upon completion of the DART+ Programme, the amount of electrified track will be approximately trebled.
Following the submission of a Railway Order application in July 2022, an Oral Hearing for DART+ West was held in September/October 2023. A Railway Order for DART+ South West was lodged in March 2023. DART+ Coastal North was submitted to and received consent for approval from Government in May 2024 and a Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North is expected to be lodged by the end of summer.
Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme was included in Ireland’s National Recovery & Resilience Plan, as submitted to the European Commission in 2021. All works associated with Phase 1 will be completed by end-2026 as required by the European Commission. This will see a significant investment (€164m of EU funds) in Cork’s rail infrastructure, which will facilitate the longer-term electrification of the network through construction of a new ‘through’ platform at Kent Station to create an integrated suburban network, re-signalling of the network, and double-tracking from Glounthaune to Midleton.
Last year, Iarnród Éireann awarded a contract for battery-electric train-charging infrastructure at Drogheda to Alstom. The fast-charging infrastructure at Drogheda will enable new battery-electric DART+ trains, entering service by 2026, to operate to and from Dublin city and Drogheda in advance of planned overhead electrification.
MetroLink will be a fully electrified, segregated and mostly underground new rail line from the Swords area to Charlemont in the south of Dublin City Centre. It is a key project under the National Development Plan 2021-30. An Oral Hearing in relation to the planning application for MetroLink commenced on February 19th and concluded on March 28th. Dependent on the outcome of the planning process, construction of MetroLink is earmarked to commence in the coming years with a view to operation by the mid-2030s.
In addition to these projects, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken by the Department of Transport in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades. The Review has focused on how the rail network across the island could contribute to the decarbonisation of the island’s transport systems, promote sustainable connectivity into and between major cities, enhance regional accessibility, and support balanced regional development.
The development and implementation of an All-Island Rail Decarbonisation Strategy that includes an electrified intercity network has been included in the recommendations in the draft Report, which was published for a Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation in July of last year.
It is expected that the final Review Report will be submitted to Governments in both jurisdictions this month, and that the final Report will be published by the end of the Summer.
To promote the decarbonisation of the freight sector and to encourage companies towards this path, the Department of Transport has appointed TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) to administer the Zero-Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme (ZEHDV).
The ZEHDV Purchase Grant Scheme assists the purchase of zero emission heavy-duty vehicles (including buses) and is funded by the Department of Transport. The ZEHDV Scheme awards grants to assist companies and enterprises who wish to buy zero-emission heavy duty vehicles which are supported by the Scheme instead of buying the diesel equivalent. Grant amounts are calculated as a percentage of the difference in price between an ZEHDV and its diesel equivalent and the total maximum aid available to eligible applicants is up to 60% of the differential price.
The ZEHDV Scheme was opened on 12th February 2024 as a follow-on scheme to the Alternatively Fuelled Heavy-Duty Scheme (AFHDV). The AFHDV scheme began in 2021 and concluded in July 2023. During that period, a total of 23 applications have received €2.9m in grant payments aiding 38 alternatively fuelled heavy-duty vehicles purchases, including buses.
The Department has made a budget of €3.5m available for the ZEHDV Scheme in 2024, and TII, which operate the scheme on behalf of ZEVI, have already received 11 applicants for 19 vehicles. As of May 2024, €1,733,736 of the 2024 budget is allocated to 11 applicants and €349,277 is committed to 4 applicants carried over from the previous AFHDV Scheme. There is still funding available and the scheme remains open to applications in 2024.
