Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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524. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that was allocated to the EV grant scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the number of grants that were awarded; the number of grants that were drawn down; the number of grants that were provided to vehicles between €10,000 and €15,000, €15,000 and €20,000, €20,000 and €25,000, €25,000 and €30,000, €30,000 and €35,000, €35,000 and €40,000, €45,000 and €50,000 and the average value of the award, in tabular form. [43099/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (now Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment) held responsibility for electric vehicle and charging grants in 2020. Therefore, the requested details are set out below for the years 2021 to 2025.

*The breakdown of figures per price bracket is for Private grants only.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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525. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of the number of EV grants awarded, broken down by county, average value of vehicle, average value of award in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form. [43100/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (now Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment) held responsibility for electric vehicle and charging grants in 2020. Therefore, the requested details are set out below for the years 2021 to 2025.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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526. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered targeted supports for EV uptake in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43101/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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540. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he would consider the introduction of targeted EV grants for rural communities experiencing “public transport poverty”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43147/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 540 together.

Rural motorists are often in an advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland which are suitable for home EV charging.

Home charging means lower running costs and many EVs are now capable of doing over 400km on a single charge, which will meet most people’s daily driving needs.

The public charging network has grown in recent years and the new Programme for Government includes further significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network so that drivers can use their EVs with confidence and certainty.

TII are leading on the delivery of charging infrastructure along our motorways and national primary and secondary routes and we have launched grant aid programmes for the delivery of significant high powered charging infrastructure on these roads, all for delivery in the next 12 months, to ensure that EV drivers have reliable access to charging points across the country.

Also of significant relevance to rural motorists is the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. This plan describes how Local Authorities will facilitate the provision of local charging networks.

Officials from my Department have been engaging actively with Local Authorities to develop their own regional charging plans to meet the various needs of users at the local level, whether urban or rural.

All of this work is already underway through our existing EV Strategy. I can also confirm that, in line with a Programme for Government commitment, a new EV Infrastructure Strategy will be developed this year covering 2026 onwards. A key consideration in that will be addressing the specific EV challenges for rural communities.

There is a suite of incentives in place from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs, including a purchase grant for battery electric vehicles; a home charger purchase grant; VRT relief of up to €5,000; and a low rate of annual motor tax.

As detailed in the new programme for Government, we will continue to examine the current EV grant system and the introduction of additional incentives with a view to increasing take-up of EVs and replacing older, polluting vehicles.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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527. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to increase EV uptake among lower incomes households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43102/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting the transition to zero-emission transport and the ambitious target to have 30% of private car fleet switched to electric by 2030. As detailed in the new programme for Government, my Department is examining the current EV grant system to ensure it remains effective and consistent with a just transition.

Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. It is also important to note that EV purchase costs have reduced in the last year due to the coming on stream of new EV brands and models from manufacturers.

There is a suite of incentives in place from Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs and for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, including:

• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;
• An apartment charger scheme;
• Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
• Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief of up to €5000 for BEVs;
• eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax.