Written Answers Nos. 202-207
202. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide a full breakdown of costs since 2020, related to the storage of double-decker battery-electric buses that have been delivered by manufacturers but have yet to enter into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33359/26]
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 provision and upgrade of public bus fleets and bus depots.
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 working days.
Pending a more detailed response, I note that electric buses are currently in operation in the urban public transport fleets in Dublin, Limerick and Athlone. There have been delays to the delivery of electric charging infrastructure to bus depots around Dublin, which has in turn prevented the ability of operators to absorb electric buses into their fleet. However, I am pleased to announce that because of the recent progress made in installing electric charging guns in depots, these buses will exit storage in the coming months. Moreover, the NTA will shortly finalise a procurement framework with suppliers of bus charging infrastructure to expedite future installations across the country.
Significant efforts are underway by the NTA and transport operators to move electric buses into passenger service, and I look forward to the continued rollout of electric buses across Dublin and our other urban centres.
203. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of the electric bus charging facilities in Donnybrook bus depot; the nature of the charging generators, whether they are powered by renewable or fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33360/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
204. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide a detailed breakdown of all gifts received in his capacity as Minister; the nature of these gifts and potential monetary value; the procedures followed in accepting gifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33390/26]
View answerAs part of Ministerial or Government of Ireland engagements with other jurisdictions, I occasionally accept as a courtesy to the host, token or symbolic gifts of nominal value.
Items that fall into this category are outlined below:
Date Item Value
March 2026 Commemorative Plate nominal
March 2026 Book nominal
205. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if the RTSS is open to private commercial passenger transport operators, whose work consists of privately contracted school runs (details supplied); where or to whom will such operators apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33438/26]
View answerThe Department of Transport is currently finalising the operation of the Road Transport Support Scheme (RTSS). The Scheme was brought to Cabinet on Tuesday, 28 April and announced at a press conference on Wednesday, 29 April. Details of how to apply for the Scheme will be made available as soon as possible
The RTSS will be available to both licenced road haulage operators and the own account sector, in respect of certain heavy goods vehicles (over 3,500kg in laden weight) where the vehicle is used in the haulage business (the carriage of goods by road). Licenced road passenger operators, subject to certain criteria, will also be eligible for support under the RTSS.
Support for operators of TFI Local Link Services will be available through the National Transport Authority (NTA), while support for school transport services will be facilitated by the Department of Education and Youth (DEY). Furthermore, transport services to islands will be facilitated by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
Passenger service vehicles that do not fall under the scope of supports provided by the NTA or DEY may be eligible for support under the RTSS.
The Department of Transport is developing an electronic application and processing system to facilitate payments under the RTSS. Further details on this and the eligibility criteria will be announced as soon as possible. Applications for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis in line with the criteria. This will be necessary given the complexity of most passenger service providers business models where the same operator may provide services under local link services, school transport services, and on a commercial basis.
206. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if all fuel costs of private passenger transport operators eligible for rebate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33440/26]
View answerThe Department of Transport is currently finalising the operation of the Road Transport Support Scheme (RTSS). The Scheme was brought to Cabinet on Tuesday, 28 April and announced at a press conference on Wednesday, 29 April.
The Department of Transport is developing an electronic application and processing system to facilitate payments under the RTSS. Further details on this and the eligibility criteria will be announced as soon as possible.
The RTSS is designed to give targeted additional support to the haulage and passenger sector in light of the significant role played by the sector and their dependence on diesel. It supports the road transport sector in recognition of its essential role in Ireland’s supply chains, for businesses and in providing essential connectivity across both urban and rural communities. The Scheme provides significant financial support to help meet the challenges posed by increased fuel costs arising from the war in the Middle East.
These supports complement the wider package of the reduction in Excise rates, the NORA levy, and the increased rebate rate allowed under the Diesel Rebate Scheme. The overall supports provided by Government reflect the needs communicated by the sector's representative bodies over many engagements, and respond to the stated needs of the sector.
207. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34025/26]
View answerFollowing my direction, the Department of Transport issued a Circular to local authorities on 16 October 2025 requesting that they implement built-up and urban area speed limits no later than 31 March 2027, and in accordance with updated ‘Speed Limit Guidelines’.
The proposed speed limit changes in urban areas will be implemented by way of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’. Accordingly, in respect of those roads in urban areas where local authorities propose to change existing speed limits, the local authority will undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider all representations, in accordance with the requirements of the ‘Road Traffic Act 2004’, as amended. As the making of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’ is a reserved function, the speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas will only be changed where a majority of the elected members vote to do so.
This approach recognises and respects the positive and important role local authorities, and the elected members, fulfil in setting speed limits in urban areas. It will allow local authority engineers, familiar with the roads and the local traffic conditions in their respective administrative areas, to review the existing speed limits, and to recommend changes to these speed limits, if appropriate, and with due regard to the procedures and the criteria set out in the ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’.
Furthermore, the period of statutory public consultation will provide an opportunity for members of the public and all stakeholders to engage with the process and to make representations to the local authorities and the elected members on the proposed speed limit changes.
The ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’ , set out the procedures to be followed and the criteria to be considered when setting special speed limits on roads. In the context of setting speed limits adjacent land, which is zoned for residential units, it is important that the following key points included in the ‘Guidelines’ are considered:
• “The overall objective in setting speed limits is to ensure that safe limits are set for the road in question that appropriately reflect the current network so that roads are self-regulating or self-explaining” – Chapter 1 – Introduction
• “The overriding principle that must inform any decision to change a default speed limit should be road safety. In addition, to be effective, a speed limit should be self-regulating (self-explaining) and regarded as appropriate by road users and should not be imposed on a road unless there is a clear justification for doing so. If a Special Speed Limit is not warranted and does not appear appropriate to the road user, the road user will tend to ignore it, creating enforcement difficulties and potentially bringing the whole system of speed limits into disrepute.” – Chapter 4 – The Making of Speed Limit Bye-Laws
• “The Urban Speed Limit Zone should reflect existing urban areas and should not be based upon potential or planned areas”. – Chapter 7 – The Setting of Speed Limits – Detailed Guidance
