James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to increase the uptake of electric vehicles here; his views on whether they are sufficient to meet our 2020 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5796/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020, including 10% of transport with this target also being legally binding. In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.  At end 2015, 5.7% of our energy needs in the transport sector were met from renewable sources.

Analysis underpinning the draft National Policy Framework for the alternative fuels infrastructure for transport in Ireland, published in October 2016, forecast that there will be in the region of 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland by 2020.

The Electric Vehicles Grant Scheme, which provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new EV, is continuing in 2017.  These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 that also apply to EVs.  Budget 2017 extended VRT reliefs on Battery Electric Vehicles to 2021 and on Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles to the end of 2018.

Apart from general macroeconomic considerations, technology advancement, affordability and consumer choice are the most important levers in triggering consumers to move to electric vehicles. Notwithstanding the substantial Exchequer support available for new electric vehicles, the reality of a halving of the price of oil and the pace of technology improvement has very significantly impacted electric vehicle market penetration.

Nevertheless we have seen increasing numbers of EVs registered in Ireland particularly in the last two years. Since the introduction of the EV Grant Scheme in 2011 to the end of 2016, the purchase of 1,702 new electric vehicles has been supported.  Of these, 1,170 were grant aided between 2015 and 2016.

In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have established and are co-chairing a Low Emissions Vehicles (LEV) Task Force involving relevant Government Departments and agencies. The work of the task force has been divided into two phases with the first phase focusing solely on EVs. The Task Force will report on an interim basis to Government on the first phase by June 2017, with associated recommendations. These recommendations will suggest a range of options for facilitating greater uptake of EVs in the coming years.