Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the electric vehicle grant for taxis, hackneys and limousines (eSPSV) to include hybrid vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25371/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Grant Scheme supports the uptake of EVs in the SPSVs sector. This sector plays an important role in decarbonising the broader transport system.

The 2025 eSPSV Grant Scheme, which was launched in February this year, saw an unprecedented level of interest from taxi, hackney, and limousine operators across Ireland.

The aim of the Scheme is to increase the uptake of fully electric SPSVs and zero emission capable wheelchair accessible SPSVs. It is aimed at improving air quality in urban areas, together with influencing the uptake of zero emission passenger cars by improving general perception and awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles. The SPSV industry is regarded as a champion in the normalisation of electric vehicle use.

The eSPSV Grant scheme does provide aid for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) where the vehicle being purchased is wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). The applicant can avail of up to €15k under the scrappage scheme when making an application for an eSPSV WAV.

The PHEV is required to be a category M1 vehicle (i.e. a car) and, as applicable, satisfy the criteria specified in the case of the different types of EV.

WAV PHEV specification:

• All electric range exceeding 50km

• Top speed exceeding 100kph

• Tail pipe emissions less than 50g CO2/km

• Not more than 4 years old

A list of EVs that meet the requirements of being either a BEV/FCEV or WAV PHEV and the requirements for SPSV licensing and are acceptable to NTA are available at: www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi