Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he will support the transition to cleaner engines for heavy goods vehicles; if he will introduce a targeted scrappage scheme; if he will support the move to Euro VI engines; if so, the way that he will support same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48765/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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There are currently several Government supports in place to help decarbonise heavy-duty vehicles and to assist in the reduction of carbon emissions.

My Department launched the Alternatively-Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme in March 2021, which partly funds the purchase of new alternatively fuelled large vans, trucks, buses and coaches.

Grant levels under the Scheme are calculated as a percentage of the difference in price between a conventionally-fuelled diesel HDV and its alternatively-fuelled equivalent. Maximum grant levels for eligible vehicles depend on the size of the company or enterprise applying for the grant, and on the fuel-type of the vehicle that the applicant wishes to buy. Funding of €3m was allocated to the Scheme this year and I am pleased to say that the scheme will once again be funded in 2023.

There are positive signs from truck manufacturers regarding the expected future availability of new Battery Electric truck models on the market. The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is currently being finalised, and when completed this Regulation will outline mandatory targets for the construction of alternative fuelling stations, including electric charging points and hydrogen fuel stations, in all Member States. The recently established Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland Office has responsibility for overall strategy for EV charging infrastructure in Ireland and will consider supports and funding, including for heavy goods vehicles in due course.

Ireland also has the Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive which offers toll discounts for alternatively-fuelled vehicles, up to an annual cap of €1,000.

With regard to a scrappage scheme for older trucks, the European Green Deal includes a specific commitment for the removal of subsidies for fossil fuels at the national level. Financial support for the uptake of EURO VI and the upcoming EURO VII diesel trucks is not consistent with that commitment and it is not likely to be possible to progress such a Scheme in line with EU State Aid rules.

However, the Government is committed to increasing the use of biofuels as a means to support emissions reductions for diesel vehicles. Under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme a percentage of the motor fuel in Ireland is obligated to be produced from renewable sources. On 21 January 2022, this percentage was increased from 12.359% to 14.942% by volume. It is intended to raise this percentage to 20% biodiesel by 2030, a move which will help to significantly reduce emissions from the haulage sector.

My Department is currently finalising research on the sustainability and availability of renewable transport fuels, including Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, which can be used as a direct substitute for diesel in existing vehicle engines and which has been successfully trialled by a number of companies in recent times.

In addition, my Department is also commissioning a biofuels taxation study that will consider the possible interactions between the proposed revisions to the EU Energy Taxation Directive, which sets out the taxation rates for energy products across Europe, and national transport decarbonisation trajectories. The scope of the study is currently being finalised, and its results will inform renewable transport fuels policy development.

Finally, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a ten-year strategy for the haulage sector. This strategy will focus on generating efficiencies, improving standards, and continuing supports to the sector to move to a low-carbon future. The strategy will be published before the end of the year.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the call for the introduction of a tiered fuel rebate scheme for heavy goods vehicles to encourage and support the transition to cleaner vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48766/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Diesel rebate scheme is a policy matter for the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

The Diesel Rebate Scheme is currently available to licensed haulage operators in respect of vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. At diesel prices over €1.43 (including VAT), the maximum rebate of 7.5 cent per litre is provided. The European Green Deal includes a specific commitment for the removal of subsidies for fossil fuels at the national level. Discussions on this in the context of the EU Energy Taxation Directive, which currently allows for the operation of the Diesel Rebate Scheme, are ongoing at EU level.

The interaction between fuel prices, taxation and a wider shift away from fossil fuels is complex and will be led by the Department of Finance. To support this process, this Department is commissioning a biofuels taxation study that will consider the possible interactions between the proposed revised EU energy taxation regime and national transport decarbonisation trajectories. The scope of the study is currently being finalised, and its results will inform renewable transport fuels policy development.

In addition there are currently several Government supports in place to help decarbonise the heavy-duty sector and to assist in the reduction of carbon emissions. My Department launched the Alternatively-Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme in March 2021, which partly funds the purchase of new alternatively fuelled large vans, trucks, buses and coaches. Funding of €3m was allocated to the Scheme this year and I am pleased to say that the scheme will once again be funded in 2023. Ireland also has the Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive which offers toll discounts for alternatively-fuelled vehicles, up to an annual cap of €1,000.

The Government is also committed to increasing the use of biofuels as a means to support emissions reductions for diesel vehicles. Under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme a percentage of the motor fuel in Ireland is obligated to be produced from renewable sources. On 21 January 2022, this percentage was increased from 12.359% to 14.942% by volume. It is intended to raise this percentage to 20% biodiesel by 2030, a move which will help to significantly reduce emissions from the haulage sector.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has plans to reform the driver certificate of professional competence system for heavy goods vehicle drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48767/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The driver certificate of professional competence process is based on European Union Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualifications and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (SI 359 of 2008), as amended.

CPC modules are reviewed on a continuous basis. The latest review on Module 2 is almost complete and it is expected be rolled out in the coming months.

Furthermore, the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 includes an action to review accessibility of driver CPC. This action is being led by the Road Safety Authority and is due for completion in quarter 2 of next year.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department have explored the possibility of securing an extension of the Ghyvelde Corridor exemption to Irish heavy goods vehicles given the significant increase in direct ferry crossings and haulage between Ireland and France post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48768/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics I regularly engage with the sectoral representative bodies. Most recently on 20 September 2022, I along with my officials in the Department of Transport, met with a delegation of the Irish Road Haulage Association (‘IRHA’) where the operational needs of Irish operators arriving into France on direct services from Ireland was raised by the IRHA.

I am aware that while there is a general weekend ban on truck driving in place in France, on the so-called ‘Corridor de Ghyvelde’ from Calais and Dunkirk, vehicles are permitted to travel on weekend days through France to Belgium and the Netherlands. I am informed that the IRHA is currently engaged with the French authorities in a request to have this corridor extended to allow for travel commencing from the French ports of Cherbourg and Le Havre also. This is a matter for French authorities to consider this request.