Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
142. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding for the EV scrappage scheme will be provided if the scheme is over prescribed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47908/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new ICE2EV scrappage scheme is a demand-led and capped pilot scheme. It is intended to address a specific and persistent emissions challenge within the private car fleet: the continued operation of older, highly polluting ICE vehicles.
As with any popular pilot initiative run on a capped, first come first served basis, there is always the potential that those unsuccessful in applying for the scheme will be disappointed and that is regrettable.
However, following consideration of a range of approaches, and based on the hugely positive response to the scheme from the sector and the public, I have instructed that the scheme be refined to optimise the number of electric vehicles that can be purchased through the scheme, thereby ensuring it best delivers the overarching policy objective of accelerating the transition to EVs.
The €5,000 scrappage payment will support the transition of up to 2,000 vehicles from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), with the full €10 million allocation from the Climate Action Fund now reserved for these payments.
The pilot scheme will be reviewed to assess its overall impact and the effectiveness of scrappage as a policy tool. Data from the scheme will be used to gauge the level of interest in the take-up of a scheme of this nature, to provide insights in respect of the types of vehicles being scrapped (e.g. their age and mileage), as well as to monitor the regional distribution of take-up (i.e. by region, as well as the urban / rural split). A number of factors will be taken into account including overall uptake and demand for the scheme, the pace at which available funding is drawn down, and the level of participation across different geographic areas, including rural and urban applicants. In addition, the scheme will be evaluated in terms of its impact on supporting the replacement of older, higher-emitting vehicles, its contribution to increased electric vehicle uptake, and its alignment with wider climate and transport objectives.
Any further iterations of the scheme will be subject to the evaluation of this pilot, and as part of wider budgetary considerations.
