Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to engaging with the car rental sector in relation to forthcoming EU legislative proposals due to be published on 10 December 2025 in relation to the mandated quota of electric cars for corporate fleets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68601/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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204. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the forthcoming publication of an EU legislative proposal on a battery EV (BEV) purchase mandate for corporate fleets on 10 December 2025; if he is concerned about the knock on impact on our domestic car rental companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68604/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s ambitious target under the Climate Action Plan 2023 is to achieve 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 204 together.

The Greening Corporate Fleets initiative originated in the EU Commission’s December 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which promised “a comprehensive policy of actions to boost the uptake of zero-emission vehicles in corporate and urban fleets.” 

Earlier in 2025, the EU Commission, initiated a high-profile review of the EU automotive industry, addressing concerns around CO2 emissions targets and other industry concerns around the EV transition. That process brought a renewed emphasis on Greening Corporate Fleets, and the Commission has been directed to produce a legislative proposal before the end of the year.

In October 2024, Ireland joined a small group of like-minded Member States in writing to President von der Leyen at Ministerial level, urging the Commission to take action on corporate fleets. Once the proposal is published, my Department will work to assess how the proposal will affect Irish businesses, in terms of the number and type of companies within scope of the proposal, taking account of the concerns for example of the short term car rental sector.  We will also give consideration, in due course, to whether our existing supports for EV take-up need to be adjusted to better complement an EU Regulation in this regard.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of capacity in the electricity grid at Dublin Airport to allow for a significant expansion of electric cars to be leased by car rental companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68602/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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203. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of capacity in the electricity grid at Shannon Airport to allow for a significant expansion of electric cars to be leased by car rental companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68603/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that energy demand and grid impacts fall under the remit of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. I understand that applications for grid connections at airports are a matter for each airport, and they may engage with ESB Networks in that regard.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is conscious of the unique challenges faced by the car rental industry in rolling out zero emission cars, specifically in relation to charging infrastructure and the lack of capacity in the grid system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68605/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. I am also aware from engagements with the car rental sector of the particular challenges which that sector faces in terms of EV transition. 

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) which operates within my Department developed a national infrastructure strategy to 2025 in line with EU and national CAP ambitions. This is currently being reviewed and updated in line with the new Programme for Government commitment on increasing EV charging infrastructure for the next 3 years. I intend publishing this new strategy for consultation in early 2026 and through this process further engage with the car rental industry in terms of their specific needs. 

In relation to electric vehicle grid connections, ZEVI continues to work closely with ESB Networks to ensure the necessary connection requirements are planned and in place to meet the increasing needs for public charging.