Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the actions he has taken to date to progress plans to introduce a new electric car network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10234/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the electric cars programme; the persons who are on the electric cars advisory forum; when the forum will report; his estimate of when the network of charging points and related infrastructure necessary for a nationwide electric cars rollout will be built; if he is liaising with the ESB on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5831/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 69 together.

The Minister together with the Minister for Transport, announced plans last year for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. The target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, will represent up to 250,000 cars on Irish roads over the next 12 years. A number of initiatives to advance the strategy have already been put in place. The Minister for Finance has provided a new tax incentive for businesses to purchase electric vehicles in the 2009 Finance Act. This enables businesses to write off 100% of the cost of purchase against tax under the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is also developing a €1 million project on alternative transport technologies including electric vehicles.

An inter-departmental agency taskforce has been established and is meeting regularly to progress the framework for deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland and is being chaired by my Department. The Departments of Transport, Finance, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Enterprise, Trade and Employment along with SEI, ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are all represented on the taskforce.

The taskforce is assessing the options and timeframe for creating the necessary infrastructure for the national roll-out of electric vehicles. The Government is sending out the message that Ireland is open for business in this area and we will also take account of global developments as the technologies mature. The taskforce will report its initial findings and advise on next steps in the next few months. Major deployment of electric vehicles will have a very positive impact in reducing our carbon emissions and our reliance on imported fossil fuels in the transport area.