'It's a joke, but not a good one': Buses continue to lie idle in Limerick

Many electric buses have reportedly been idle in Limerick due to a lack of available chargers.

Speaking on the matter, Aontú Cllr Sarah Beasley said: “Sometimes you really have to shake your head, and wonder has the Government any handle whatsoever on our country’s finances, or has any real conviction on improving public transport".

In June 2026, the National Transport Authority (NTA) revealed that 98 state-funded electric double-decker busses are stalled at Limerick, Galway, and Dublin depots, compared to 130 in March 2026.

384 buses had been placed in storage over the past four years, with 98 remaining out of service due to the lack of chargers needed to power them.

"They cost around a half a million euro each to buy and they can't even enter the fleet. Workers are being hit with public transport fare hikes, while there's money to squander on stalled buses," Cllr Beasley continued.

Sinn Féin said correspondence between PAC and the NTA revealed that the storage of remaining buses is costing taxpayers almost €20,000 every week, with around €520,000 more in storage costs expected before all vehicles enter service.

According to the NTA, the total cost of the storage and servicing of the 384 electric buses purchased by the NTA over the past 4 years is €6,962,227, around €2,349,892 of which relates to the use of the storage sites and insurance coverage.

"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. The Government preaches about people using public transport, yet doesn’t even get its act together to enable them to do so. It’s not only deeply frustrating, it’s a joke, but not a good one," Cllr Beasley concluded.