Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
321. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on his Department’s work to support the decarbonisation of the fleet of private bus operators, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 4 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55480/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, one of the key priorities under Ireland’s EU Just Transition Fund Programme is to provide former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition which is targeted at the wider Midlands Region.
The territory includes counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, as well as the municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Galway), Carrick on Suir, Thurles (Tipperary), Athy, and Clane-Maynooth (Kildare).
The Department is currently focussing on exploring two Public Transport enhancements:
• Decarbonisation of public local rural bus route(s) including scoping, installation of electric charging points, and purchase of electric buses, and
• Support to private bus operators in the territory to move to electric vehicles including consultancy support and support for specific aspect of the electrification upgrade - Action JM25/7 of the Climate Action Plan.
During 2024 the NTA opened a call to support the decarbonisation of fleet for private bus operators in the EU JTF Territory with a grant directly funded through the JTF Scheme. An event was held in October 2024 to provide essential guidance and consultation for private operators in the region who are interested in transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles.
Eligible bus operators could then progress to further consultancy to kick start the operator’s move to electric vehicles.
Action JM25/7 of the Climate Action Plan is progressing well with bus operators being provided with ongoing consultation, and those who are successful in their applications are progressing to the offer of grant funding. A workshop was held with the transport operators in September 2025 to progress the next steps and detailed design works have commenced at the transport operator’s premises.
