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Public Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Ceisteanna (53)

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

53. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to reduce the carbon emissions of the public transport fleet nationwide; the steps taken; the targets in this regard; if the targets are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15170/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

According to the most recent estimates from the Environment Protection Agency (2017), the national public transport fleet, encompassing rail, buses and small public service vehicles (SPSVs), represents just over 4% of all transport emissions. While no specific carbon emission reduction targets have been set for public transport I firmly believe that the sector has a strong leadership role in normalising the use of alternative fuels and technologies.

A programme of work is currently under way to promote the use of alternative fuels and to maximise the potential contribution of public transport towards reducing our overall transport emissions profile. Project Ireland 2040 has committed €8.6 billion to public transport over the coming years to 2027. This investment will enable the sector to cater, in an environmentally sustainable way, for the increasing transport demand associated with growing population and employment. Major sustainable transport projects planned include BusConnects, investment in the DART Expansion Programme; and the MetroLink; as well as the multi-annual urban cycling and walking infrastructure investment of over €110 million underway for our main cities.

In relation to the national bus fleet, as the Deputy will be aware, the NDP has committed us to no longer purchase diesel-only buses for the urban public bus fleet from July 2019.   Under the BusConnects programme, which is to be administered by the National Transport Authority, by 2023, half of the Dublin bus fleet (approximately 500 buses) will be converted, with plans for full conversion by 2030. The programme is expected to be expanded to include urban bus fleets in Cork, Galway and potentially Limerick and Waterford. In preparation for this transition, my Department has undertaken a series of bus trials which are expected to conclude in April 2019. The findings from the trials will be considered, along with other research and market information, to inform the future direction of bus procurement.

It is also important to recognise the potential contribution of electrified rail to our decarbonisation objectives. Over the coming years an estimated €2 billion will be invested in the DART Expansion Programme which is a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin, with all of the lines linked and connected. High-frequency electrified services to Drogheda, Celbridge/Hazelhatch, Maynooth and M3 Parkway are envisaged under the Programme. It will also include new stations to provide interchange with bus, LUAS and Metro networks. It is also expected that in 2022, Ireland will accept delivery of its first new diesel-electric trains which will enable the enlargement of the rail fleet by approximately some 300 new rail carriages. These major rail projects will help supplement the range of viable low carbon alternatives to private passenger car travel and positively impact our sectoral emissions profile.

Finally, regarding the SPSV sector (taxis, hackneys and limousines); in line with our ambition that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emission capable, it is clear that electrification presents an achievable pathway towards decarbonisation. To this end, the Electric SPSV Grant Scheme was established by my Department and opened to applicants in February 2018, providing purchase grants of up to €7,000 for battery electric vehicles and up to €3,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, available in addition to the range of other incentives and supports for electric vehicles. €500,000 has been allocated from my Department's Green Public Transport Fund in support of the initiative in 2019.

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