Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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665. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated first and full year cost of extending toll waivers to electric and hybrid vehicles. [32188/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I and my Department are considering a range of policy options to encourage the use of electric and hybrid vehicles of which extending toll waivers to such vehicles is one.  However, the cost implications would have to be considered particularly in the context of the potential impact on long term PPP contracts.

The Deputy may be aware that my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, have jointly convened an interdepartmental 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, especially electric vehicles (EVs). The wide ranging work of the Taskforce has been divided between three working groups addressing: Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility; Infrastructure, Energy Regulation and Pricing; and Planning Legislation, Building Regulations and Public Leadership.  As part of its programme of work, Working Group 1 of the LEV Taskforce, which is chaired by my Department, is assessing options for public administration and leadership incentivisation for private car owners. This will include due consideration for the introduction of incentives such as the extension of road charging exceptions for electric and hybrid vehicles, amongst other measures.  Details of the progress of the Taskforce will be made available on my Department’s website in due course.