Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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216. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are specific grants available for companies based in Ireland that wish to invest in electric buses to further bolster emission reduction policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40047/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Irish Government. The Programme for Government commits to 7% average annual emissions reduction to 2030; ultimately, the goal is for a zero-emission mobility system by 2050. Decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles will be key to achieving this objective in the transport sector.

To promote the decarbonisation of the  heavy-duty sector, my Department launched a new Alternatively-Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle (AFHDV) Purchase Grant Scheme on 15 March 2021.The Scheme, which is administered by TII, is intended to help bridge some of the difference in purchase price between conventional heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) and those powered by alternatively-fuelled power-trains. To accord with EU State Aid rules, grant levels under the Scheme are calculated as a percentage of the difference in price between a conventionally-fuelled diesel HDV and its alternatively-fuelled equivalent. Maximum grant levels for eligible vehicles depend on the size of the enterprise applying for the grant.

€2m was allocated to this scheme in 2021 and given the excellent response to the initiative, my Department has allocated an additional €1m in funds this year to assist the heavy-duty vehicle sector in its transition to zero-mobility.