Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all electric and hybrid vehicles in operation in Ireland are required to be fitted with acoustic vehicle alerting systems; if so, the details of the policy or legislation underpinning this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4507/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Since July 2019, all electric and hybrid vehicles placed on the market in the EU, including Ireland, are required under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1576 to have an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) fitted that will automatically emit a noise when travelling at speeds below 20km/h and when reversing to alert pedestrians of oncoming vehicles. The device is obligatory in all new EVs since 1 July 2021.

This requirement has been given effect in Irish law by means of the European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 556 of 2020).