Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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487. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one low emission electric vehicle commercially available here from the UK which is also wheelchair accessible; his plans to encourage the availability and purchase of low emission electric vehicles for taxi purposes in view of the fact that his Department's policy is to provide new taxi licences only for wheelchair accessible vehicles in order to create a more wheelchair accessible taxi fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy may know, my Department is in the process of developing the transport sector's contribution to the National Mitigation Plan.  This will include proposals for a range of measures aimed at supporting a transition to low carbon technologies.  In addition, last week I launched for public consultation a draft national policy framework on alternative fuels infrastructure for transport.  The primary aim of this framework is to remove any barriers that exist towards greater uptake of low emissions vehicles or LEVs. The framework reflects the Programme for Partnership Government 's commitment to establishing a dedicated LEV taskforce.  It is certainly recognised that greater penetration of LEVs in the Irish market would assist Ireland in meeting emissions reduction, energy efficiency and air quality targets as well as achieving 10% renewable energy in the transport sector by 2020.​

As policy in relation to electric vehicles rests with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, his Department is working closely with mine to establish the taskforce in the coming weeks.  It will work to present a range of potential measures and incentive options to Government for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of LEVs, including taxis.  Proposals to ​support the uptake of lower emitting public service passenger cars, including wheeelchair accessible taxis, will be considered within its work programme.