Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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237.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to reduce the cost of owning and operating EV vehicles. [32490/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Over €115m has been allocated in 2024 to ensure the continued transition to electric vehicles (EVs) which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making EVs accessible to all.

Supports available from the Department of Transport, and where applicable with support from the Department of Finance, for the transition to electric vehicles, include:

• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) of up to €3,500;

• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme - up to €300;

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

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

• eSPSV grant scheme – a generous grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to EVs (and wheelchair accessible EVs)

• ZEHDV grant scheme – a grant scheme for HDVs to bridge the gap between a low emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle; and

• Low rate of annual motor tax;

The Department of Transport is acutely aware that the cost of electric vehicles remains an issue for many consumers. To this end, EV policy is kept under continuous review with a view to making low-emission vehicles affordable.