Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the implementation status of the national policy framework on alternative fuels infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48087/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuel Infrastructure in Ireland, 2017-2030 sets out that a Steering Group will be established to monitor the implementation of actions arising from the Framework.

The Framework established targets to achieve an appropriate level of alternative fuels infrastructure for transport, relative to national policy and Irish market needs. Obligations arise from the Framework with implications for a number of Departments and agencies and consequently the recently established Steering Group, chaired by my Department, includes representation from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the ESB, Gas Networks Ireland and the maritime and aviation sectors.

An implementation plan has been developed and will be presented to the Steering Group in the coming weeks.

Transport must and will continue to play a strong role in contributing to our national emissions reduction effort and the deployment of cleaner alternative fuels and technologies will be instrumental in achieving this objective. The Framework has set out our ambition that from 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero emission (or zero emission-capable). I recently (together with Minister Naughten) reaffirmed my belief that an even greater level of ambition must be set and we have committed to working together to ensure that all new passenger cars sold in Ireland from 2030 onwards will be zero-emission vehicles.

A series of measures announced in Budget 2018 clearly reflected this Government’s determination to make progress on decarbonising transport. As recommended by the Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce a suite of tax and expenditure measures was announced to clearly indicate the Government’s commitment to a low-carbon electric vehicle future.