Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
145. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport to consider and review the current grant scheme for electric vehicle purchases to determine if they are sufficient to cover rising costs, including conversions and tax liabilities. [46241/24]
View answerProviding a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Department.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) incentivises vehicle uptake through both direct funding interventions and by creating an advantageous policy ecosystem for manufacturers, importers and dealers, as well as for complimentary sectors such as the lease/hire sector, the eSPSV and fleets sector and for participants in the second-hand market.
Current financial supports from ZEVI for the transition to electric vehicles and for the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure include:
• 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;
• ZEHDV grant scheme – a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a low emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax.
These and related infrastructure supports will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand. We are committed to regularly reviewing these measures and grants to ensure they support our decarbonisation objectives.
