Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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714. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for making the taxi services here more environmentally friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36870/16]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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715. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are proposals for making the taxi industry more environmentally friendly; the stage of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36871/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together.

A key element of securing more environmentally friendly taxi services is the anticipated transition of the national taxi fleet to more sustainable alternative fuels over time.

​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, I recently held a public consultation on 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 will be considered within its work programme.