Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of providing a 75% and 100% grant respectively, to public service vehicle drivers to fund purchase of electric vehicles for the entire PSV fleet. [44949/21]
View answerThe transition of the taxi and hackney fleet towards zero/low-emission vehicles has an important role to play in effecting a substantial reduction in transport CO2 and of air pollutant emissions, particularly in Irish towns and cities due to the high mileage travelled by these vehicles, the stop/start and idling nature of their work, as well as the predominance of fossil fuels within the sector. Increasing the uptake of electric vehicles in the SPSV sector also has a strong leadership and demonstration effect on the public, introducing more people to low/zero emission mobility options.
€15m was committed this year towards the extension of the Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Grant Scheme to include the introduction of a fund towards the scrappage of older vehicles in 2021 which reflects the Government's commitment to supporting SPSV drivers this year. I am delighted to say that approximately 1,200 applications have been received by the NTA and the funds have been fully committed to assisting this important industry transition. To date, over €5m has been paid to SPSV drivers in 2021.
To promote the decarbonisation of the heavy-duty sector, including buses and coaches, my Department launched a new Alternatively-Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme in March this year. The Scheme, which is administered by TII, is intended to help bridge some of the difference in purchase price between conventional heavy-duty vehicles and those powered by alternatively-fuelled power-trains. €2m was allocated to this scheme when it launched and given the excellent response to the initiative, my Department allocated an additional €1m in funds to assist the heavy-duty vehicle sector in its transition to zero-mobility. This funding has now been fully committed and the first payment has been drawn down.
The grant schemes are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort while also being mindful of budget capacity.
The increase of the grants to incentivise the purchase of PSVs will be a matter for Government to consider as part of the Budget preparations.
