Pat Buckley
Question:146. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing specific concessions or subsidies for rural transport groups transitioning to electric vehicles. [46242/24]
View answerWednesday, 22 January 2025
Questions (146)
Written answers
Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of the Department. Public transport will play a large role in reaching climate targets; however, fleet electrification is one of the biggest mitigation actions for domestic sectors and will provide the greatest share of transport emissions abatement to 2030. EVs will also support decarbonisation of transport in rural or underserved areas lacking public transport provision or other travel alternatives.
The Department of Transport is aware of the need to consider varied and local challenges to EV uptake, including those living in rural areas. Current financial supports from Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland 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.