Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date on rolling out an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43287/09]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has worked on securing a memorandum of understanding with any new manufacturers with a view to producing electric vehicles here following his statement that he will look to other manufactures to guarantee choice and supply of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43285/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of rolling out an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles; when the inter departmental and inter agency task force report on electric vehicles will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43347/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52. 65 and 68 together.

The Government has ambitious plans for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. A target has been set of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020. This would equate to around 225,000 cars on Irish roads. Electric vehicles are an increasingly realistic solution to the challenge of reducing the transport sector's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. There is now very significant global investment under way in research and development in this area. The technology is maturing to a point where large scale commercial deployment appears feasible in the short to medium term. There is keen interest internationally in Ireland's commitment to be an early mover in this field. Ireland is seen as an excellent test-bed particularly in relation to network infrastructure development. 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.

ESB Networks has a central role to play in the research and development of the infrastructure network. The ESB is also playing a leading role in work by European utilities and car manufacturers to progress essential standardisation across Europe. The Inter Departmental/Inter Agency Taskforce is advising on the costed options and timeframes for putting in place the necessary infrastructure and other arrangements for the cost effective deployment of electric vehicles on a national basis. Initial estimates by ESB Networks 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. I am currently reviewing the report of the task force with a view to bringing it to Government in the near future for agreement to setting a clear roadmap ahead. While it is my intention in the context of Budget 2010 to discuss with the Minister for Finance, the possible introduction of incentives to assist in the roll-out of electric vehicles, such decisions can only be considered in the context of the overall budget framework. My Department and the ESB have already agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Renault-Nissan which provides for ongoing information exchange on developments. Discussions are underway with a number of other car manufacturers, with a view to developing Memoranda of Understanding, with them also.