All electric buses currently in storage to join fleet by next year, says NTA

Last week, it was revealed that nearly €7m has been spent on storage and servicing of 132 electric buses.

Correspondence from the NTA to the PAC says that there are now 98 electric buses purchased, but that have not yet entered operational use, with a further 12 on order that have not completed the manufacturing process. File picture

Electric buses in storage due to a lack of charging infrastructure will all be on the roads early next year, the Dáil’s spending watchdog has been told.

Earlier this year, the National Transport Authority (NTA) told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that some 132 buses remained in storage due to a lack of charging ports at depots, a situation that transport minister Darragh O’Brien said at the time was “not great”.

Last week, it was revealed that nearly €7m has been spent on storage and servicing of the electric buses.

Correspondence from the NTA to the PAC says that there are now 98 electric buses purchased, but have not yet entered operational use, with a further 12 on order that have not completed the manufacturing process.

The letter, which contains answers to several questions asked at March’s hearing of the committee, says that the 56 buses destined for use in Dublin are all “projected to enter into operational use in Q3 of this year as additional electrical grid capacity at the Dublin Bus Phibsborough depot becomes available, and the second phase of charging infrastructure at the Dublin Bus Harristown depot comes onstream”.

It adds that the 42 remaining buses destined for use in Galway are all projected to enter operational use during Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, as the new charging infrastructure at the Bus Éireann Galway bus depot comes online.

The letter says the outstanding 98 buses represent around 5% of the operational fleet countrywide. It also states that no detailed assessment has been undertaken, but that the NTA is satisfied that it received value for money on the buses and that purchases ahead of need are necessary.

The NTA said it is necessary for it to purchase a minimum of 162 new buses each year in order to ensure that buses do not exceed their efficient operational life of 12 years and to accomplish the transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035.

• Paul Hosford is Deputy Political Editor.