Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made on securing a further memorandum of understanding with car manufacturers and charging infrastructure providers following the agreements with a company (details supplied) and the ESB to promote the rapid rollout of electric cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24394/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020 will equate to up to 250,000 cars on Irish roads. This scale of deployment of electric vehicles will have a significant impact in terms of reducing carbon emissions and imported oil consumption in the transport sector. The challenge now is to develop costed options for the establishment, operation and maintenance of electric vehicle infrastructure network in Ireland, together with possible measures to develop a market for the vehicles themselves.

The Memorandum of Understanding which I recently concluded with Renault-Nissan will greatly increase the level of knowledge available on the infrastructure requirements of electric vehicles and ensure that Ireland has the opportunity to be one of the first countries to be supplied with both Renault and Nissan electric cars. Under the existing Memorandum of Understanding ESB Networks are availing of data on developments in electric vehicles which are being used to inform consideration of optimum infrastructure, possible support mechanisms and the potential benefits accruing. This work will provide us with a solid basis for electric vehicle deployment policy and inform our dealings with other technology providers, including vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure developers.

The Memorandum of Understanding does not convey any exclusive rights in relation to the provision of electric cars. Ireland is open for business to all manufacturers in relation to electric vehicles. I believe we need to build relationships with all global players in the sector. More generally, work to progress the strategic framework for deployment of electric vehicles is under way. The inter-departmental/agency Taskforce is meeting regularly to progress the framework for deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. It is chaired by my Department and comprises the Departments of Transport, Finance, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

The Taskforce is developing the options and timeframe for putting in place the necessary infrastructure and other arrangements for the national roll-out of electric vehicles. Full account will also be taken of global developments as the technologies mature. The Taskforce will shortly report its initial findings and advise on next steps. Three working groups have been set up under the aegis of the Taskforce. These are the Transport/Infrastructure Group, the Fiscal Group, and the Enterprise Group. The work of these groups will inform the Taskforce's main report. Employment opportunities, the costs involved in providing car charging infrastructure and all associated issues including funding options will be addressed in the report. The ESB and SEI have been working intensively as part of the Taskforce and visited Israel and Denmark last year to study their approaches to fast tracking the deployment of electric vehicles. The ambitions of other countries underline the importance of positioning Ireland at the forefront of deployment of electric vehicles.