Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
663. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering introducing any additional incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, for example, freedom from tolls on motorways, tunnels and bridges. [6549/14]
View answerThe Government is incentivising the purchase of more energy efficient private cars through the motor tax and VRT systems. Specifically in relation to encouraging people to switch to more sustainable energy sources for private car users, my Department and the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources (as lead Department) are actively promoting electric cars and the ESB is supporting the deployment of these vehicles by expanding the number of publicly accessible charge points.
With regard to making electric vehicles exempt from tolling, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). There are no plans to make electric vehicles exempt from existing tolling points at present.
