James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department’s policy around the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil in public and private vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61342/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027 sets out a pathway to incentivise supply of renewable fuel in transport, including HVO, to meet Climate Action Plan and EU Renewable Energy Directive targets. This is achieved through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), an obligation on fuel suppliers to ensure a minimum proportion of renewable fuel in all road transport petroleum products supplied in Ireland, i.e. it does not distinguish between operation of public or private vehicles.

Renewable transport fuel, including HVO, used in transport which fulfils EU criteria for sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction is eligible for RTFO certificates and can be counted against the obligation. The Climate Action Plan target is for a 20% physical blend of biofuel in diesel supply by 2030.

Corresponding to an RTFO rate of 21% by energy in 2024, a physical blend of approximately 10% biofuel in diesel supplied to road transport was achieved, of which approximately 7% was FAME biodiesel and 3% was HVO blended in diesel. It is expected that further increases in the RTFO rate projected to 2030 under the Policy will see a physical blend in the region of 13% HVO in diesel supplied in the State.

Sustainable renewable transport fuels such as HVO provide immediate climate-change mitigation utilising the existing vehicle fleet and will remain 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. Ireland’s policy on renewable fuels will continue to promote future supply of sustainable advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin.

The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for administration of the RTFO and the award of RTFO certificates for each megajoule of renewable fuel supply. The NORA also advises the Minister on RTF policy.