Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of rolling out an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35542/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has worked on securing a memorandum of understanding with new manufacturers with a view to producing electric vehicles here following his statement that he would look to other manufactures to guarantee choice and supply of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35540/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the report on electric cars published recently by the Joint Committee on Climate Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35526/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos 12, 27 and 55 together.

Electric vehicles offer an increasingly realistic solution in terms of reducing the transport sector's Greenhouse Gas Emissions while at the same time tackling Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels. There is very significant global investment under way in research and development in this area. The technology is now maturing to a point where large scale commercial deployment appears feasible in the short to medium term. The range of new car models by virtually all motor manufacturers recently revealed at the recent Frankfurt motor show makes this very clear. The challenge now is to develop economically viable options for the establishment, cost efficient operation and maintenance of an electric vehicle infrastructure network in Ireland, together with measures to develop a market for the vehicles themselves.

The Minister for Transport and I recently 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 equate to around 225,000 cars on Irish roads. An Inter-Departmental/Inter-Agency Taskforce on electric vehicles is chaired by my Department and comprises the Departments of Transport, Finance, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is also joining the Task Force in light of its statutory responsibilities for the regulated networks.

The Taskforce will advise on the options and timeframes for putting in place the necessary infrastructure and other arrangements for the national roll-out of electric vehicles in a cost effective manner. Initial estimates for the roll out of infrastructure are between 6 and 18 months depending on the scale of initial deployment. Global developments will be factored in as the technologies mature. The Taskforce will very shortly report its initial findings and advise on next steps. The report will also advise on overall costs and financial implications. It is my intention in the context of Budget 2010 to discuss with the Minister for Finance, the introduction of necessary financial incentives to assist in the roll out of electric vehicles. Obviously I cannot be specific in this regard, in advance of the Budget.

The Memorandum of Understanding concluded by the ESB and my Department with Renault-Nissan is designed to 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. This represents a major opportunity for Ireland. Under the Memorandum of Understanding ESB Networks will be able to avail of data on developments in electric vehicles which will inform our consideration of optimum infrastructure, support mechanisms and the potential benefits accruing. 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 and I am open to building relationships with all global players in the sector. My Department and the ESB are currently in discussions with other motor manufacturers, with a view to developing potential additional Memoranda of Understanding.

I have read with interest the report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change on electric vehicles and I am grateful to members of the Committee for their valuable contribution. The recommendations in the report are being considered in the context of our work to implement an overall strategy for electric vehicles. Much of the report resonates with the Government's own strategic initiatives to ensure that Ireland is one of the early movers in the electrification of transport.