Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Sinn Féin TD John Brady has described as "staggering" the fact that 98 taxpayer-funded, double-deck electric buses, valued at €58.3 million, remain in storage because charging infrastructure required to bring them into service has yet to be completed.

Brady said the situation represented a significant waste of public money at a time when communities were seeking improved public transport services. He also criticised the Government's planning and accused the Minister for Transport of failing to address the issue.

Teachta Brady said: "It is absolutely farcical that at a time when communities are crying out for improved and reliable public transport, this Government continues to allow 98 brand new electric buses, worth €58.3 million to sit idle.

"That's €594,000 per bus.

"These are buses that should be carrying passengers, reducing waiting times and easing overcrowding. Instead, they are gathering dust because of the Government’s complete failure to plan ahead and ensure the necessary charging infrastructure was in place.

"This isn't a delay in manufacturing or delivery. It is a delay entirely of the Government’s own making.

"It remains extraordinary that buses purchased at enormous cost to the taxpayer have been left sitting unused for years. "Adding insult to injury, the NTA has now budgeted a further €1.5 million to store and maintain these buses, on top of the €7 million already spent on storing unused buses over recent years.

"Taxpayers are now paying millions simply to keep brand new buses parked in storage instead of serving the public. It is difficult to imagine a clearer example of waste arising from poor planning.

"This represents a complete failure to protect public money and to deliver the public transport services that communities desperately need.

"The explanation that it was somehow impossible to plan the rollout of charging infrastructure simply defies logic.

"It is quite simple – if you are going to purchase electric buses, you must ensure the charging infrastructure is ready before they arrive.

"This issue has been raised over many months and the Minister for Transport Daragh O’Brien has spectacularly failed to take any kind of action.

"Commuters dealing every day with overcrowded buses, delays and cancelled services will rightly be angered.

"They deserve answers."

According to Brady, the buses have remained out of service because the charging infrastructure needed to operate them has not been delivered. He said the National Transport Authority (NTA) had allocated a further €1.5 million to store and maintain the vehicles, in addition to €7 million already spent on storing unused buses in recent years.

The PAC chair said the delays had prevented the buses from entering service at a time when passengers continued to experience overcrowding, service cancellations and long waiting times.