342. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport the basis on which funding under the 2025 SEAI electric vehicle scrappage grant scheme was allocated on the opening day of applications, including whether technical issues with the online application system affected the outcome of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58168/26]

The ICE2EV Scheme was supported by €17 million in funding from the Climate Action Fund and was launched as a capped pilot initiative to test the effectiveness of scrappage as a measure to accelerate electric vehicle uptake.

While strong interest in the scheme was anticipated, demand significantly exceeded expectations. This strong public response is welcome and reflects growing consumer engagement with the transition to electric vehicles, supporting Ireland's Climate Action ambitions, including the target for 30% of the national vehicle fleet to be electric by 2030.

The scheme operated on a first-come, first-served basis. To support fair access, participation was open to all approved EV dealerships nationwide and only two logins per dealership were permitted when applications opened.

While there was a technical issue following the opening of the application system, SEAI quickly resolved the issue and the system was restored within minutes. It should be noted that this issue was experienced by all dealers simultaneously and did not benefit/disadvantage any applicants.

The allocation of funding between urban and rural applicants was implemented in line with the scheme design, 65% for rural applicants and 35% for urban. Early figures indicate a broad geographical spread of successful applications across all counties, reflecting strong engagement with the scheme nationwide.

The Department and SEAI will review the operation and outcomes of the pilot scheme, including application demand and delivery arrangements, to inform future policy considerations regarding EV supports.