471. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if his Department intends on extending the ICE2EV scrappage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62253/26]

The ICE2EV Scrappage Scheme was designed and launched as a capped pilot initiative, supported by €17 million in funding from the Climate Action Fund, comprising of €10 million for the scrappage grant and €7 million for the EV purchase grant.

The strong level of interest in the scheme is encouraging and highlights increasing consumer engagement with the transition to electric vehicles. This positive response aligns with Ireland’s broader Climate Action objectives, including the ambition to increase the uptake of electric vehicles across the national fleet by 2030.

The policy purpose of the 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 post-completion evaluation of the scheme will be undertaken to assess its effectiveness, emissions impact and overall value for money, and to inform future policy decisions in this area. The evaluation will consider a range of factors, including the drawdown of available funding, participation across different geographic areas, the characteristics of vehicles being scrapped, and the types of electric vehicles supported under the scheme.

No decision has been made at this time regarding an extension 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 €3,500 available for the purchase of new electric vehicles up to €50,000 in value.