Mr. Brian Cooke:

The target for 2030 represents a massive challenge. The Senator asked if it is possible. I would say it is not impossible, but it is unlikely based on the current level of new car sales, which averages less than 120,000 a year, compared with 165,000 a year between 2001 and 2008. We would need to see a significant increase in the new car market. If we can create a new car market through incentives and through taxation systems that support an overall stronger new car market, we would have a much better chance of getting there. We could also generate more revenue for the State.

We talk about the 1 million vehicles for 2030. However, there are also 1 million vehicles that are over ten years old. Those 1 million vehicles are only half the job; we have the other 1 million older vehicles. We do not want to get to 2030 and find we have 1 million vehicles that are 16 or 17 years old. It is only part of the job. The target will be very challenging. The more important target is the level of emissions we can take out. As some of the other speakers have highlighted, we cannot put all our eggs in the EV basket. Other elements such as cycling and e-bikes will also be important, as will public transport. The target will be very difficult to achieve.

The overwhelming source of EVs in Ireland over the next five or six years will be the new car market. A typical used import is between five and eight years old. That supply of vehicles cannot be met from the UK or the other potential used car import markets. That supply of vehicles will probably only arrive in any significant numbers towards the end of the decade. If we were looking to free up the used car import market by putting in some sort of support, now is not the time. It is something that could be reviewed further down the line.

The Senator mentioned means-tested grants. We need to get as many new EVs as possible on the road now. The more we can do today, the less we will need to do in 2028, 2029 and 2030. We need to create that active used car market. The people we want to get into EVs now are people who may have a three- or four-year-old car and are changing. The €5,000 grant provides that bridge and makes the decision for them.