Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the lifetime costs of electric versus fossil fuel vehicles justifies recommending to public bodies under his auspices to switch procurement strategies bearing in mind the likely trends in fuel costs. [21000/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of my Department. 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. The transport sector, which accounts for about 20% of Ireland’s overall carbon emissions, must play a central role in the national decarbonisation effort. The national car and van (LGV) fleet accounts for almost 60% of all land transport emissions, and so a transition to low emissions vehicles, including EVs, is a necessary step-change to effect a substantial reduction in transport emissions.  

Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2019 Climate Action Plan, and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 936,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years.

There are 11 commercial and 8 non-commercial agencies under the remit of my Department.  I have forwarded the Deputies question to each agency for direct response.  Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days. 

The Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government commits to developing and implementing a sustainable public procurement policy, to ensure that what are we buying and building is consistent with our climate ambition. When vehicles fall to be replaced, my department will replace them with electrically powered alternatives, where the cost and suitability of the vehicles for the purpose required allows.

The Office of Government Procurement has drawn up fixed price procurement frameworks for the supply of long and medium range battery electric passenger cars and vans to public sector bodies. Full details on how to use the framework as well as pricing and supplier contact details can be found on the www.ogp.gov.iewebsite.  These Frameworks will greatly assist Government departments and bodies to purchase electric cars and vans.As battery and recharging technologies develop and a greater range of vehicles become commercially available I expect an increasing number of public bodies to transition to EVs. 

The use of EVs within public sector vehicle fleets and the installation of associated EV infrastructure is an important exemplar and market driver, providing the necessary public leadership and raising consumer awareness of EVs.

There are also several initiatives and programmes underway across the public sector that encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.

- The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy encourages public sector fleets to test new technologies and facilitate/accelerate their market uptake.

- Green Public Procurement can act as a driver for innovation and competitiveness in the industrial sector, encouraging the development of new technologies.

- The recast Clean Vehicles Directive set minimum Member State procurement targets, with the main objective of increasing the uptake of clean (low- and zero-emission) vehicles.

- The Local Authority Climate Action Charter is a key action in the Climate Action Plan and will ensure every local authority embeds decarbonisation, sustainable development and climate resilience into every aspect of the work they do.