Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the research carried out by his Department into the merit of promoting the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel for transport to support a reduction in emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51123/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I am committed to supporting the decarbonisation of the Transport sector with an overall goal to shift to a Zero Emission Transport Sector.

Renewable transport fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) are an important transition measure in transport decarbonisation in the coming years as the shift to electrification and further increases in public transport and active travel are fully realised. Sustainable renewable transport fuels provide immediate climate-change mitigation utilising the existing vehicle fleet.

Specific to Heavy Duty Vehicles my Department is finalising a study on HVO use in the sector which seeks to measure the volume of HVO currently used, likely future availability and price, decarbonisation potential and the feasibility of policy interventions to increase the use of HVO which would not risk a delay to the ultimate trajectory for the transition to zero emission HDV fleets.

The interim results of the study were presented at a meeting of the Road Freight Forum on 14 May and the final draft of the report is currently being reviewed by Department officials. The report will be published to gov.ie in the coming weeks.

A study concerning the hierarchy of use of HVO across transport and other sectors has also been recently commissioned. The rationale for the study is to ensure that State intervention through obligations and related incentives are aligned to the most efficient use of HVO across all transport modes, relative to available renewable energy alternatives across these transport modes and to demand for HVO use in non-transport sectors, within the context Climate Action Plan and European regulatory targets and requirements to 2030 and beyond.

External consultants have been engaged to conduct this study which is expected to be completed in 2026. The output of this study will inform Department policy and plans, addressing concerns raised by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) in its 2025 Annual Review of Transport, which recommends a coherent plan for the most efficient use of sustainable biofuels across all sectors to be developed by the Department of Transport and Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment.