Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the SEAI purchase grant for EV vehicles will be retained to encourage the purchase of new EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45738/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government provides a wide range of supports to incentivise the purchase of EVs which include:

- A grant of up to €5000 for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);

- Home Charger grant scheme - up to €600;

- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of BEVs;

- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;

- eSPSV grant scheme

- Low rate of annual motor tax; and

- Tolling reductions of 50% for battery electric vehicles and 25% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

On 21st July I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. A suite of new of grants and initiatives have been launched with further information available at www.gov.ie/zevi.

At a policy level, ZEVI will continue to support the need to assist the transition to driving electric. The means to incentivise EV purchases including the provision of grants for vehicle purchase are forming part of the Budget 2023 deliberations between this Department and the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme is in place to support the greening of the SPSV, or taxi, sector. It is aimed at improving air quality in urban areas, reducing the CO2 emissions of a sector which typically has very high mileage, and also can positively influence the uptake of zero emission passenger cars by improving general perception and awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles.

The SPSV industry is regarded as a champion in the normalisation of electric vehicle use. The Scheme is funded by the Department of Transport and administered by NTA acting as agents of the Department with delegated authority and as the licensing authority for SPSVs. €15m was allocated in 2022 to enable owners of small public service vehicles, such as taxis, hackneys and limousines, to buy electric vehicles.

The Scheme is available nationwide to persons applying for new SPSV licenses and existing SPSV license holders who wish to upgrade their current vehicle with a replacement EV.

The scheme is currently open for applications.