Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of electric or hybrid vehicles purchased by her Department in 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32859/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department did not purchase any vehicles in 2020 or to date in 2021.

By way of context, my Department and its agencies currently have three motor vehicles. The cost of replacing these vehicles with an electrical equivalent is estimated to be in the region of €85,000 (excluding VAT and VRT).

As the energy usage on these vehicles is relatively low, the Department does not consider that there is an economic or major environmental benefit in changing these vehicles at this time.

At the end of their life cycle, consideration will be given to the need to replace them and to the best environmental option at that stage.