Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has entered into an arrangement for the purchase of electric vehicles in 2009 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44014/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Neither my Department nor Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), has entered into a commercial arrangement with any company to provide electric vehicles to the Government.

The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020. An Inter-Departmental/Inter-Agency Taskforce on electric vehicles is chaired by my Department and comprises the Departments of Transport, Finance, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, SEI, ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. The Commission for Energy Regulation is also joining the Taskforce in light of its statutory responsibilities for the regulated networks.

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 Taskforce with a view to bringing it to Government in the near future for agreement to setting a clear roadmap ahead.