Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the current weight limits for buses will be reviewed given the additional weight of batteries in new electric vehicles which will limit capacity. [46238/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The current EU Weights and Dimension sets out the maximum authorised weights and dimensions for heavy-duty goods or passenger vehicles (HDVs) on EU roads. This Directive is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003, as amended.

The European Commission has proposed a revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive 96/53/EC and negotiations are ongoing. The current draft includes provisions for higher weight limits for electric vehicles, including buses.

My Department has no plans to amend the current national weight limits until the negotiations are completed and a new Directive is adopted, which is expected in the coming months.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure the availability of small electric buses to meet policy goals. [46239/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) leads on the delivery of Ireland’s ambitious targets under the Climate Action Plan to have an expected 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.

There is a suite of incentives in place from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to electric vehicles and for the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure including:

•     A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);

•     A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;

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

•     eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV, including wheelchair accessible vehicles;

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

•     Low rate of annual motor tax.

The ZEHDV scheme awards grants to assist companies and enterprises who wish to buy zero-emission heavy duty vehicles which are supported by the scheme instead of buying the diesel equivalent.

These and related infrastructure supports will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand.

For questions pertaining to Local Link or other public service obligation bus services, the National Transport Authority or Transport for Ireland can be contacted for details.