Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has identified the barriers to adoption of electric modes of travel; and if he is developing measures to address them. [45648/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am acutely aware that the cost of electric vehicles remains an issue for many consumers and that supply chain issues globally have also proven difficult. These have been exacerbated by international events.

Ireland is at the beginning of its transition to private electric transport. Within a few years I anticipate there will be a viable second hand market that will provide a more affordable pathway to the purchase of an EV. In addition, the motor industry is planning to bring more affordable electric vehicles onto the market.

My Department convened the Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway (EVPP) Working Groupto produce a roadmap to achieving the 2030 EV target. This Group considered a variety of regulatory, financial, and taxation policies to accelerate EV adoption. The Groupalso examined the issue of price parity between EVs and ICE vehicles and found that parity in respect of the Total Cost of Ownership is likely to be achieved later on this decade, driven by falling battery prices and savings due to economies of scale.

In the meantime, in order to support the transition to EVs, the Group recommended that the generous suite of EV supports already in place in Ireland should be retained until at least end-2022. Additional measures to further incentivise EVs and/or disincentivise fossil fuelled vehicles will also be necessary. Cost-effective, targeted policy supports should continue to be developed and strengthened over the coming years.

An Implementation Group has been established to progress the recommendations and consider further potential measures and barriers to the adoption of the EVs. This Group will report on its progress to Government in Q4 of this year.

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.

The use of e-bikes is proving to be an increasingly popular method of travel, encouraging more people to switch to cycling and to cycle longer distances. A particular barrier to use of e-bikes can be the price as they are often more expensive than a regular bike. Bearing this in mind, and referencing the commitment by the Government to continue the provision of increased funding to Active Travel measures, I can assure the Deputy that potential incentives to encourage the purchase of bikes and e-bikes are being considered as part of the budgetary process.

Finally, there are provisions in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill to legislate for the use of powered personal transporters, specifically e-scooters. When the Bill is passed, I, as Minister, will have the power to make regulations for the use of this new category of vehicles on our roads.