Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 142: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she 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. [44022/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has no commercial arrangement in place to purchase zero emission vehicles for 2009/2010.

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 the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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 Task force 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.