To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the proportion of buses in regular operation that are powered solely by renewable fuels.

I am committed to tackling the climate emergency and doing all that we can, as quickly as we can, to reduce our emissions. Currently there are three zero emission hydrogen buses that recently went into service within the Belfast Metro network supported by Northern Ireland’s first Hydrogen Refuelling Station located at Milewater Road. I have also recently invested £50m in 100 zero emission double deck vehicles for our bus network. These buses will be made up of 20 hydrogen and 80 battery electric vehicles and will be delivered by spring 2022 at which point Translink will have the 4th largest fleet of Zero Emission buses across these islands.

Translink has a strategic vision to see fully zero emission bus services in Belfast and Derry by 2030, and the whole public transport network to be net zero emission by 2040. Whilst this will require significant investment, I am ambitious in doing all we can to tackle the climate emergency.