Local TD Michael Fitzmaurce has slammed his former colleague Shane Ross – and the Government – over plans to “move away” from diesel-only buses. Fitzmaurice is calling on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, to clarify why he intends to “fork out millions of euro of taxpayers’ money on buses that struggle to get up hills and spend huge amounts of time parked up awaiting repairs”.
Deputy Fitzmaurice was commenting on Minister Ross’ plans to purchase a new fleet of hybrid buses which work on a mix of diesel and electricity, as well as comments from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the effect that Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann will no longer purchase diesel-only buses.
The independent TD is concerned that this move may evolve into “yet another ministerial pig in a poke that will work in theory, but not in practice”.
He said: “Minister Ross and Taoiseach Varadkar must clarify whether or not we are in danger of buying buses that struggle to get up hills”.
“Purchasing buses that can’t go up hills sounds like it should be part of an Irish joke; if that is the case, then the Irish taxpayer certainly will not be laughing”.
