Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the uptake of electric vehicles is on target to achieve the targets set for 2025 and 2030; if there is evidence of a significant differential in take-up between urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62246/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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To date in 2021, over €70m has been provided in grants to support the purchase of electric cars. By year end, this will represent almost a doubling of supports to EVs in 2020.

As a result, the EV percentage of overall car registrations has increased significantly this year and represented over 15% to end November 2021. The target for Electric Vehicles is set for 2030. Analysts have provided modelled scenarios to Government to provide information as to how this target could be reached year on year. Considering these scenarios, Ireland is currently on track as regards projected uptake of EVs in the fleet. As of 30 November, there were 47,504 EVs registered in the national fleet.

Table 1.1: CAP21 scenario for uptake of EVs

The total budget for decarbonizing transport (EVs and EV infrastructure) to 2025 within the NDP is in the region of €500m, with €100m available in 2022. The 2022 funds of €100m will provide grants for passenger vehicles, taxis , heavy duty vehicles, home charging infrastructure, and publicly accessible charging infrastructure.

To support EV uptake in 2022, it is estimated that about €65m funds will again be provided for capital grants for Battery EVs (BEVs). The remainder of the €100m will be targeted towards grants for vans, trucks, buses, taxis/small public service vehicles (SPSVs) and infrastructure provision.

The SEAI grant scheme aims to encourage behavioural change and support the Government’s commitment to achieving a 51% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. The grant schemes are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.

My Department does not keep records on vehicle uptake in urban and rural areas. However as of 30th November 2021, the five counties with the highest uptake of battery electric vehicles are:

1. Dublin

2. Cork

3. Kildare

4. Wicklow

5. Meath