Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I believe that the figure to the end of June was over 600 pure EVs. I will get the Deputy the exact number, as I do not know it off the top of my head.

It comprises of a combination of supports, including a €5,000 VRT relief and a €5,000 purchase grant. On top of this, every purchaser of a new EV or second-hand EV registered since 1 January of this year will be entitled to a grant of up to €600 to support the installation of a home charger. We have also provided a grant of up to €7,000 for the purchase of EVs as taxis, hackneys or limousines. We have reduced the benefit-in-kind to 0% for battery EVs since the beginning of 2018 and they now attract a low tax rate. The issue that is continually raised by, thankfully, rural colleagues is the charging network. Additional significant money is being invested in the network this year and we intend to replicate or increase that next year. We accept that the infrastructure built over the past number of years requires upgrade and modernisation, some of which we cannot even get spares for now. There has been a time lag in this regard because of the decision of the CRU regarding the ESB's ownership of the network. We now have a roadmap. When I was in San Francisco three weeks ago, I met people from a company that is working on new technology that could help to extend the roll-out of EV charging points throughout the country. This company is currently engaged with the ESB in this regard.