Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vehicles totally reliant on electricity propulsion in use; his expectations for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16207/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The number of Electric Vehicles totally reliant on electricity propulsion (BEV - Battery Electric Vehicles) under current taxation at 30th June 2020 was 10,910 of which 10,183 were private vehicles. There were also a further 8,488 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles taxed which are capable of being propelled solely by electricity on shorter journeys.

The Climate Action Plan has a target of 936,000 EVs on Irish roads by 2030.

The EV Policy Pathway Working Group, established on foot of the Climate Action Plan and composed of officials from the SEAI and the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Finance & of Public Expenditure, is due to report shortly on the optimum mix of regulatory, taxation and subsidy policies to drive a significant ramp-up in passenger EV and electric van sales from very early in this decade.

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, outlines a commitment to incentivise the use of electric vehicles (EVs). The Programme for Government also commits to publishing an EV strategy to ensure charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand and to provide planning guidance to local authorities.