Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
221. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reintroduce or increase funding to allow the expansion of the low-emissions vehicle toll incentive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23780/20]
View answerThe Low Emission Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI) Scheme, initially called the Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive (EVTI) Scheme, was launched in July 2018 following a recommendation from Phase 1 of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce. The EVTI Scheme was established to encourage private and commercial car or van users who regularly use tolled roads to consider switching to an electric alternative. It was estimated that there were approximately 400,000 heavy toll users in Ireland and so a reduced tolling incentive would act as a meaningful inducement for a large number of vehicle owners.
Following recommendations from Phase 2 of the LEV Taskforce, which focused on alternative fuels other than electricity, my Department received funding in Budget 2020 to expand the Scheme to include toll reductions for electric motorbikes, hydrogen fuelled passenger cars and small public service vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles (trucks, buses and coaches) fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen or electricity. In line with Government policy, conventional hybrid vehicles are not included in this Scheme.
Under the LEVTI Scheme, which is administered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland on behalf of my Department, full battery electric, hydrogen, CNG and LNG vehicles qualify for a 50% toll reduction and plug-in hybrid vehicles qualify for a 25% toll reduction, up to a maximum annual threshold of €500 for private vehicles and €1,000 for commercial vehicles including SPSVs. Greater off-peak reductions apply to the M50 toll and the Dublin Port Tunnel.
As of the end of July 2020, almost 12,000 vehicles have registered under the LEVTI Scheme. The uptake rate is considered high in light of the fact that many of the toll roads in Ireland are located in the South and East of the country while alternatively fuelled vehicle ownership has a wider geographic distribution. To date, registered vehicles have completed almost 1 million transactions under the Scheme.
In terms of funding, €1.5 million was allocated to this Scheme in 2020. Due to the significant decline in road traffic this year because of COVID-19, fewer discounted journeys have been made by registered users and it is therefore unlikely that the entire budgeted allocation will be spent. It is my intention to continue the expanded LEVTI Scheme into 2021, and the level of funding allocated will be determined in the context of the annual budgetary process.
