Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the electric car roll-out programme; the persons who have been appointed to the national task force; when its report will be published; if he has had contacts with the ESB on this matter; the number of businesses which have taken up the option of a 100% write-off on the cost of purchase of electric vehicles against tax under the accelerated capital allowance scheme to date; when the public information campaign on electric vehicles will begin; the number of electric vehicles in the national car fleet; the percentage of the national car fleet they comprise; when the Ministerial car fleet will be electrified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13705/09]

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has read the Drive to Zero electric car document published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change; and if he will implement the recommendations of the report. [18746/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the report on electric cars published recently by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18780/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 95 together.

Together with the Minister for Transport, I have announced plans 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.

An inter-departmental agency Taskforce has been established and is meeting regularly to progress the framework for deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. Chaired by my Department, the Taskforce comprises the Departments of Transport, Finance, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. ESB, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are also key members of the taskforce.

The Taskforce is assessing the options and timeframe for creating the necessary infrastructure for the national roll-out of electric vehicles, taking account of global developments. The Government is sending out the message that Ireland is open for business in this area. The Taskforce will report its initial findings and advise on next steps shortly. Three sub groups are operating with the Taskforce: a Transport/Infrastructure Group, a Fiscal Group, and an Enterprise Group. The reports of these groups will inform the main report being prepared by the Taskforce. All issues relating to employment opportunities, the costs involved in providing car charging infrastructure and associated issues will be addressed in the report.

The ESB and SEI have been working intensively within the Taskforce and visited Israel and Denmark last year to learn from their approaches to fast tracking the deployment of electric vehicles. SEI is also developing a €1 million project on alternative transport technologies including electric vehicles.

The recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding with Renault-Nissan will ensure that Ireland will be one of the first countries in the world to be supplied with both Renault and Nissan electric cars. This represents a major opportunity for Ireland both in terms of our targets and more generally in relation to the economic impact of electric car development. Under the Memorandum of Understanding ESB Networks will be able to avail of data on developments in electric vehicles, enabling more detailed and precise planning around infrastructure, support mechanisms and the potential benefits accruing. My Department is working with ESB to determine how the necessary infrastructure arising from the arrangement will be put in place and how best to fund this infrastructure.

The Memorandum of Understanding does not convey exclusive rights in relation to the provision of electric cars. Ireland is open for business to all manufacturers in relation to electric vehicles and I look forward to building relationships with all global players in the sector.

I have read with great interest the report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change relating to electric vehicles which is an important contribution to the work underway. The recommendations of the Report will be considered as part of the overall strategy for electric vehicles.

My Department does not have information available on the number of businesses which have taken up the new tax incentive to purchase electric vehicles. Decisions in relation to the ministerial car fleet do not come under the direct remit of my Department.