181. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to continue the EV grants into 2027, as this is a matter of some concern and interest to the Irish Motor Industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50883/26]

The Government is fully committed to supporting the transition to zero-emission and the ambitious target to have 30% of private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.

Over €120m has been allocated in 2026 to support the continued transition to EVs which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government's commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.

An additional €37 million was allocated from the Climate Action Fund to support the high level of demand in 2026 to include funding for the recent announced ICE2EV scheme.

Current incentives to support the continued transition to electric vehicles and for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure include:

• a purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs)

• a home charging scheme

• an apartment charging scheme

• benefit-in-kind tax relief for BEVs

• VRT relief of up to €5,000 for BEVs

• a low rate of annual motor tax.

From a business perspective there are also supports available including:

• a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV

• a fleet assessment grant to help businesses explore the transition to EVs

• a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a zero emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle.

Regarding the EV Purchase Grant, the maximum eligible vehicle price threshold for the grant will now be €50,000, rather than €60,000. This change has been made to target funding for EV transition towards lower price bracket cars, enabling a greater proportion of the funding available within the National Development Plan to support the roll-out of public charging infrastructure. The amended price threshold will come into place for new applications received after 31 July 2026, and will be kept under review in 2027.

The EV grant system is continually reviewed to optimise EV purchasing with a view to replacing older, polluting vehicles. It should be noted that decisions on financial incentives, including EV grants, must be taken in the context of overall financial sustainability.

Government’s aim is to create an optimum environment for EVs and to make it possible for anyone who wants an EV to have one, while also ensuring that the rollout of EV Charging infrastructure keeps pace with the growing number of EVs on the road. We will continue to take a balanced approach, ensuring that our incentives and policy measures are both ambitious and deliverable within our current environment.