Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
195. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the efforts that are being made to achieve national targets regarding the use of electric vehicles; if he will consider a strategy or policy to encourage the importation of second-hand EVs from the UK, including reducing VRT and other taxes, charges and levies on the importation of these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17628/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the transport sector accounts for approximately 20% of Ireland’s national greenhouse gas emissions, with car use responsible for over half of these emissions. In recognition of this, the Climate Action Plan contains commitments to significantly increase electrification within the national fleet, including an ambitious target of 945,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. Meeting this target will be extremely challenging; however, it represents the scale of transformation needed in the transport sector if emissions are to be reduced to the extent required.
A positive policy environment has been fostered with a generous suite of financial and taxation incentives in place for those buying an EV as well as an extensive publicly accessible recharging infrastructure network. Presently, there are approximately 53,000 EVs on Irish roads; a significant step-up is required if Ireland is to achieve its Climate Action Plan EV target.
The former Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport established the Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway Working Group to consider the optimum mix of regulatory, taxation and subsidy policies available to Government to significantly accelerate electric vehicle sales. This Group focused on mechanisms to achieve an immediate increase in EV uptake to attain over 175,000 EVs by 2025 in the line with the Climate Action Plan trajectory and, thereafter, to be well placed to reach full electrification by 2030. In its report, published in September, the Group noted that the UK second hand EV market is an important vector for vehicles entering the Irish fleet.
Matters relating to VRT & other taxation is a matter for which my colleague the Minister for Finance has primary responsibility, and with whom I will be engaging on these issues in preparation for Budget 2023.
I am supportive of all appropriate and proportionate supports for the EV industry providing momentum towards achieving the Government’s emission reduction commitment.
