Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review with Dublin City Council its policy of paid parking and clamping of vehicles which are parked in designated spaces while using charging points in view of the campaign to encourage persons to switch to electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18314/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Road Traffic Act provides local authorities and county councils the power to make bye-laws governing the type of parking controls operating within their own regions. It is a matter for each individual authority to consider how it wishes to charge for parking, including EVs while parked at charge points. Enforcement procedures also lie directly with each local authority or county council. However, I am fully aware of the important role that EVs can potentially play in reducing Irish transport emissions and therefore am committed to exploring multiple mechanisms to encourage their increased their take-up.

It may interest the Deputy to know that my Department and the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE), have jointly convened an interdepartmental Low-Emitting Vehicles (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 EVs.

The work of the Taskforce has been divided into three work streams focusing on: Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility; Infrastructure, Energy Regulation and Pricing; and Planning Legislation, Building Regulations and Public Leadership. Preliminary recommendations from the Taskforce were considered in the 2018 budgetary process and a suite of continued and new EV supports were announced as part of Budget 2018.  A list of current incentives to promote EVs is available on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) website.

During the final meeting of the Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility Working Group both public and private parking authorities were invited to participate in discussions relating to parking charges; it is expected that recommendations from the Taskforce will be presented to Government in the coming weeks.