Aontú’s Peadar Toíbín says that while “workers are being hit with public transport fare hikes” there’s “money to squander on stalled buses” as 130 busesare lying idle due to not having chargers.
The coaches are stalled at Dublin, Limerick and Galway depots, unable to be used as they are still awaiting charging infrastructure years after they were bought.
The Meath West TD said: “This is an egregious example of government waste. There are buses sitting there, depreciating in value, when they could be out on the roads. They cost around a half a million euro each to buy and they can’t even enter the fleet.
“There are double-decker battery electric buses sitting there not in use due to a very basic lack in planning that is astounding.
“How could it take three years to get chargers in place? The Minister for Transport has to come out and explain exactly what happened here, that we have buses lying idle for years for want of chargers.
“There is no excuse here. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told how the buses were authorised early, on the basis there could be a delay in charging infrastructure. Now it is nearly three years on and they’re still waiting. What is going on? We need to know the full story.”
“At a time when commuters are being hit with public transport fare hikes, it’s a kick in the face to know there’s money to squander on stalled buses.”