Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of times the interdepartmental low emissions task force has met since its formation. [23613/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, with the support of the Department of An Taoiseach, have convened an interdepartmental Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) Task Force to consider the range of measures and options available to Government for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of low carbon technologies in line with the Programme for Government commitment.The role of the Task Force is to examine and make recommendations on a range of potential stimulus, to examine options such as grants, tax incentives, tolls and parking.  Other issues such as infrastructure, legislation and public leadership are also part of the work programme.

The LEV Task Force has begun its work and has divided its work into three work streams which have been assigned as follows:

- Working Group 1 - Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility (WG1);

- Working Group 2 - Infrastructure, Energy Regulation and Pricing (WG2); and

- Working Group 3 - Planning Legislation, Building Regulations and Public Leadership (WG3).

In addition, the work programme of the Task Force has been divided into two phases. The first will focus solely on electric vehicles and the second phase will focus on all other alternative fuels.

The Task Force was convened in December 2016 and since then, WG1 had met on two occasions and WG2 has met once.

The Task Force will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to contribute to the issues considered. Progress being made by the Task Force will be available on the website of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.