483. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to establish a national vehicle-transition scheme similar to the ICE2EV pilot scrappage scheme; if he plans to introduce a long-term, sustainable programme to support motorists in moving from internal-combustion vehicles to electric alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56755/26]

The ICE2EV Pilot Scheme, which launched on July 1st, has committed the available €17M in funding, comprising of €10M for the scrappage grant and €7M for the EV purchase grant.

Approximately 2,000 successful applications were processed within 75 minutes of the scheme opening, supporting the replacement of around 2,000 internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles. While strong demand was anticipated, the level of interest exceeded expectations.

The high level of interest demonstrated in the scheme is welcome and reflects growing consumer engagement with the transition to electric vehicles. This momentum supports Ireland’s Climate Action ambitions, including the target for 30% of the national vehicle fleet to be electric by 2030.

The policy purpose of this capped initiative was to test the effectiveness of scrappage as a tool to stimulate EV uptake among those who may not otherwise transition in the near term, with the ultimate goal of delivering additional emissions reductions necessary for our climate targets.

A detailed review of the scheme will now be undertaken to examine uptake, emissions impact, and overall value for money, to inform any future policy decisions in this area. A number of factors will be taken into account including the pace at which available funding is drawn down, the level of participation across different geographic areas, the characteristics of vehicles being scrapped (including their age and mileage profile), and the characteristics of electric vehicles applied for under the scheme.

No decision has been made at this time regarding an expansion of the scheme. Any future iterations of this pilot scheme will be subject to the outcome of the above review, as well as wider budgetary considerations.

The existing EV purchase grant scheme, administered by the SEAI, remains in place, with grants of EUR3,500 available for the purchase of new electric vehicles up to EUR50k in value.