Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his answer. One point that jumped out at me was his comment that, since its introduction, the electric vehicle toll scheme has proven "very successful" – those were the Minister's words – with over 52% of all electric vehicles in the national fleet registered to avail of the incentive. This is free money, an incentive, yet only 52% of the people who are early converters have applied to the scheme. Generally speaking, these people are well connected in a small tight-knit community. Only 52% or one in every two of them has registered for a scheme that is meant to incentivise the public at large to convert to electric vehicles, turn doubters into believers and get more people buying electric vehicles. Does the fact that only half of the existing owners of electric vehicles have converted not indicate, as I outlined in my original statement, that there is a clear issue with the clarity, consistency in applicability, effectiveness and usefulness of the scheme? It seems to be generating a potentially a large expense without doing what it sets out to do. People are converting to electric vehicles in greater numbers. However, as the Minister outlined, several challenges face us, especially in terms of charging infrastructure. Does he believe the scheme, in which only one in two existing vehicles owners participate, is operating as a true incentive?

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