Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost to the Exchequer due to the various financial incentives being offered of increasing the fleet of electric vehicles and low emitting vehicles on the road to 945, 000 by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28350/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under the National Development Plan €1bn has been allocated to specific carbon reduction measures, including vehicle electrification. 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 national car and van 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.

The Government has already committed significant funding to support low emitting vehicles through the National Development Plan, which currently includes an allocation of almost €500 million for the period 2021-2025 and additional support from the Climate Action Fund. This funding includes both capital grants to support the purchase of EVs and capital funding for the delivery of EV charging infrastructure.

€100m has been allocated in 2022 to ensure the continued transition to electric vehicles.  This is an almost doubling of the provision made available in 2021 and underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all. This funding will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, ZEVI, is currently being established to coordinate this work.

This includes:

- Continuation of the purchase grant scheme at existing levels for fully electric passenger cars and vans, and the refocusing of exchequer funding on zero tailpipe emission vehicles.

- Continuation and expansion of the home charging infrastructure scheme to include multi-unit dwellings.

- Continuation of a grant scheme for taxi and hackney drivers.

- Continuation of an alternatively fuelled heavy goods vehicles purchase grant scheme.

- Continuation of the Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive Scheme.

- Introduction of a revised scheme for public point charging.

- Introduction of a new scheme for electric vans.

- Introduction of a new scheme for destination charging.

As part of preparations for Budget 2023, I have asked Departmental officials to review the full range Exchequer supports currently provided to EV owners to ensure that they not only offer value to the Exchequer as part of decarbonisation of transport, but are also fit for purpose moving forward.