The government has announced that all postal deliveries in Dublin City Centre will be emission free by the end of this year, as An Post replaces its fleet with electric vehicles.

It comes as part of the Post Eco Plan, which will see zero emission postal deliveries extended to Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford by the end of 2020.

Overall, the project announced in the House of Oireachtas on Wednesday, 20 February, will save 1,000 tonnes of carbon annually.

750 electrical vehicles, including vans and cycles, will replace the fleet by 2022, 200 of which will be deployed throughout the capital this year.

The initiative will also see a number of trials, including public charging points for electric vehicles outside post offices as well solar panels on An Post buildings, the financial benefits of which will be shared with local community-based environmental initiatives. All drivers will also be trained in eco-driving to ensure best practice driving for all road and weather conditions. 

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Announcing the eco-initiative, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, said: "We must step up Ireland's response to climate disruption. It is vital that every aspect of our society seek ways to reduce their carbon impact and the public service and our semi-state bodies must be the first to show that it takes policies for sustainability seriously, if we are to persuade the rest of society to make the step changes which we need to make.

"Today's announcement shows that An Post is taking the lead and recognising the urgency of taking action in adapting to the changes that are needed. By placing sustainability at the core of their business strategy, they are leading by example." 

An Post CEO, David McRedmond added: "As An Post moves from the old world of mail to the new world of ecommerce, Sustainability has to be the guiding principle for the business. An Post is transforming for generations to come: as a major employer with a huge fleet footprint, this demands responsible climate action with this commitment to carbon-free delivery."

(JG)