Written Answers Nos. 65-73
65. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the total number of electric vehicles in Ireland to date in 2023; the number of electric vehicles registered annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14064/23]
View answer4215 Battery Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have been confirmed as registered during 2023 to date. This is based on January alone, figures for February are pending from the CSO.
The individual annual figures for all of the last 10 years are not available to me immediately, however the breakdown of EVs registered for the first time as confirmed by the CSO for years 2018-2023 is detailed below:
|
Year |
Total |
Cumulative Total |
|
2018 |
3,994 |
3994 |
|
2019 |
8,151 |
12,145 |
|
2020 |
11,041 |
23,186 |
|
2021 |
22,685 |
45,871 |
|
2022 |
27,595 |
73,466 |
|
2023 (Jan) |
4215 |
77,681 |
66. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of cars and percentage of the national vehicle fleet powered by fossil fuels in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14065/23]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are provided in the table below. The data reflect the number of passenger cars with a current motor tax at 31 December 2022 and 28 February 2023 (most recent data for 2023) and are powered by a fossil fuel. Vehicles such as hybrid are included in the data below as they have the option to use fossil fuel. The data below are extracted based on vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, with no more than eight seats in addition to the driver.
|
Passenger Vehicles Only |
31st December 2022 |
% of Total Overall Passenger Number |
28th February 2023 |
% of Total Overall Passenger Number |
|
DIESEL |
1,240,800 |
42.51 |
1,245,147 |
42.29 |
|
PETROL |
817,819 |
28.02 |
824,816 |
28.01 |
|
PETROL/ELECTRIC |
107,130 |
3.67 |
111,600 |
3.79 |
|
PETROL/PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC |
31,891 |
1.09 |
34,228 |
1.16 |
|
ETHANOL/PETROL |
6,896 |
0.24 |
6,890 |
0.23 |
|
DIESEL/ELECTRIC |
4,697 |
0.16 |
5,419 |
0.18 |
|
DIESEL/PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC |
1,429 |
0.05 |
1,498 |
0.05 |
|
PETROL & GAS |
844 |
0.03 |
823 |
0.03 |
|
OTHERS |
155 |
0.01 |
160 |
0.01 |
|
Total number of passenger vehicles powered by a fossil fuel |
2,211,661 |
98.38 |
2,230,581 |
98.22 |
|
Total overall number of passenger vehicles with a current motor tax |
2,248,157 |
2,271,039 |
The table below provides data on the overall number of vehicles for the same periods with a current motor tax, powered by fossil fuels and percentage.
|
All Vehicles |
31st December 2022 |
% of Total Number |
28th February 2023 |
% of Total Number |
|
Total number of vehicles powered by a fossil fuel |
2,879,725 |
98.65 |
2,900,891 |
98.53 |
|
Total overall number of vehicles with a current motor tax |
2,919,005 |
|
2,944,263 |
|
67. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the €5,000 grant scheme available for the purchase of new battery electric vehicles; if he is considering extending the scheme beyond this summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14070/23]
View answerIreland now has a buoyant demand for electric vehicles; 2022 saw an 81% increase in registration of EVs compared to the previous year (CSO). As of end December 2022, there were 73,574 electric vehicles on Irish roads. This year we are also seeing the arrival of newer EV models on the Irish market that are lower in cost.
The Government's investment strategy for electric vehicles will therefore begin a rebalance towards supporting EV charging infrastructure starting this year. This change aligns with similar polices in other European nations, where countries including Norway, Germany and France have begun to curb their vehicle subsidies and refocus their investments in this sector towards provision of charging infrastructure.
As such, it is now appropriate to amend the current Electric Vehicle Grant scheme. The current maximum grant of €5,000 will remain in place for applications until June 30 2023, with a new maximum limit of €3,500 applying from the 1st of July.
It is important to emphasise that Government support for the transition to EVs remains a key action in meeting our climate targets.
Many elements of the existing electric vehicle grant system remain unchanged. Vehicle incentives for businesses will stay the same and the SEAI will continue to administer the commercially bought EVs and large panel vans grants at current levels.
The small public service vehicles (SPSV) grant for taxi and hackney drivers administered by the NTA was renewed in February, while the Alternatively Fuelled Heavy Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme, managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, has also remained unchanged.
In addition, there is no change to the existing generous VRT relief which is available to a maximum of €5,000 to purchasers of electric vehicles up to the selling price of €40,000, with a reduced scale for vehicles up to the selling price of €50,000.
68. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of schools enrolled in the safe routes to school in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of schools waiting to be enrolled; the breakdown of the number of schools enrolled in the programme by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14071/23]
View answer71. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the level of funding that has been allocated to the safe routes to school programme in 2023; the number of schools that are availing of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14074/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 71 together.
In March 2021, I launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme as a response to the need to improve safety at the ‘front of school’ environment and enhance access to school grounds. The programme aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities. This will help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing the necessary infrastructure.
The Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA). An Taisce’s Green Schools team is coordinating the programme and funding will be made available to local authorities who will play a key part in delivering the infrastructure along access routes and at the school gate.
Given the role of the NTA in allocating funding and progressing the SRTS Programme, I have referred the Deputy's queries to that agency for a more detailed response. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a response in the next 10 days.
69. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of the 248 new posts for active travel teams in local authorities that have been filled; the number that currently remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14072/23]
View answer70. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the 248 new posts for active travel teams in local authorities by county, in tabular form; the number that have been filled to date; the number of vacancies at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together.
My Department initially announced funding for up to 248 new posts in local authorities to expand walking and cycling facilities all over the country. Following discussions with local authorities and the National Transport Authority (NTA), I wrote to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) in January 2021 confirming an allocation of a higher figure of 282 posts around the country. This figure was subsequently revised once again in April 2021 to 320 posts, given the required increase in capacity particularly in local authorities outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities which did not previously have an Active Travel Programme in place.
This significant increase in resourcing reflects the €1.8 billion in funding committed to walking and cycling over the planned lifetime of the Government. The additional staff will be dedicated to delivering and promoting Active Travel in Ireland and will work across design, communication, community liaison and construction oversight.
Recruitment processes have met with varying degrees of success, with some local authorities finding it difficult to fill certain vacant roles due to a number of factors including a shortage of applicants given the strength of the economy and the impact of both COVID-19 and Brexit on the traditional movement of potential recruits around Europe. The NTA has been working closely with all the local authorities to deliver the additional resourcing plan for Active Travel, and reports progress on this recruitment to my Department on a quarterly basis.
The latest figures from the NTA show that as of 1 March 2023, 241 Active Travel staff are employed within local authorities across the country. The table below shows a breakdown of recruitment to date in each local authority.
|
Local Authority |
Active Travel Staff |
|
Carlow County Council |
4 |
|
Cavan County Council |
4 |
|
Clare County Council |
3 |
|
Cork City Council |
16 |
|
Cork County Council |
15 |
|
Donegal County Council |
3 |
|
Dublin City Council |
38 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
12 |
|
Fingal County Council |
11 |
|
Galway City Council |
12 |
|
Galway County Council |
4 |
|
Kerry County Council |
6 |
|
Kildare County Council |
10 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
3 |
|
Laois County Council |
3 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
4 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
18 |
|
Longford County Council |
3 |
|
Louth County Council |
4 |
|
Mayo County Council |
4 |
|
Meath County Council |
10 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
4 |
|
Offaly County Council |
4 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
4 |
|
Sligo County Council |
3 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
10 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
4 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
8 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
4 |
|
Wexford County Council |
4 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
9 |
|
Total |
241 |
It is understood that recruitment processes are ongoing in many of the local authorities, and my Department is monitoring this closely, together with the NTA , in order to ensure that Councils around the country are well equipped to deliver high-standard, safe and user-friendly infrastructure and other Active Travel initiatives going forward.
72. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the amount each county council has drawn down from its allocated active travel funding in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/23]
View answer73. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the amount of the €289 million allocated to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022 that has been spent; if he will provide a breakdown of where the funding has been spent to date in each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14076/23]
View answer74. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of the €290 million assigned to walking and cycling that has been allocated to each county council; if he will provide information on the amount of funding that has been spent to date in 2023 by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 72 to 74, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who have responsibility for allocating this funding to the local authorities for development of selected projects in each area.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to that agency for a more detailed answer in relation to allocations to and spend by local authorities in 2022 and so far in 2023. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
