To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) how many vehicles her Department has purchased or leased; and (ii) how many of those have been zero-emission vehicles, in each of the last five years.

The Department for Infrastructure purchased, leased or hired the following number of vehicles in each of the financial years since its establishment:

2020/21 - 10 vehicles including heavy commercial and small vans, in addition, due to driver/passenger restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, 37 small vans are on hire. None of these are zero-emission vehicles. 2 zero emission vans for trial and evaluation are on order awaiting delivery.

2019/20 – 46 vehicles, heavy & light commercial, 4 motor vehicles & 4 standard motor cycles, none of which are zero-emission vehicles.

2018/19 – 115 light & heavy commercial vehicles or specialist applications, none of which are zero-emission vehicles.

2017/18 - 20 vehicles, all heavy commercial and specialist applications, none of which are zero-emission vehicles.

2016/17 – 30 vehicles, light & heavy commercial and specialist applications, none of which are zero-emission vehicles.

The former Department for Regional Development purchased an electric vehicle, a Nissan Leaf, Acenta, in 2015 which is used by my Department’s staff for business purposes, mainly to attend site visits and meetings. Since taking up my post as Infrastructure Minister, I have been using the e-car for Ministerial business as much as possible.

In addition to the introduction of the Glider, in the last few months Translink has taken delivery of three hydrogen fuel cell buses that are being piloted within the Belfast Metro area and I recently announced a further £66 million investment for the purchase of 145 new zero and low emission vehicles and the associated infrastructure for the Translink fleet.