8. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance his views on how taxation measures could help arrest the decline in the uptake of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16104/25]

Sentiment score: 0.03

Will the Minister give his views on how taxation measures could help arrest the decline in the update of electric vehicles?

Sentiment score: 0.08

I thank the Minister for his response. I have been an EV driver since 2015, a so-called early adopter, and I am on my third EV. When I purchased my first EV, there were a number of incentives such as the SEAI grant that covered the entire cost of the charger. That has been greatly reduced in the intervening years. There was also free public charging and low road tax, as the Minister mentioned, as well. I realise that free public charging was not sustainable in the long run but combined with the grant that covered the full cost of the home charger, it made the transition to the EV much easier for me and my family. While I appreciate the measures the Minister mentioned, which go a long way to supporting the transition to EV driving, will he share his thoughts on increasing the home charger grant and reducing the current rate of road tax at €120 annually, which is the same as it was when I started driving an EV more than ten years ago?

Sentiment score: 0.46

I thank the Minister and acknowledge the measures that have been implemented. A lot is often made of the insufficiency of the public charging network. I do not share that criticism myself because I have a home charger and rely solely on that. The Government decision to reduce VAT to 0% on solar installations in 2023 was hugely beneficial to my family and others like mine. It allowed us to invest in solar PV panels, which marries very well with EV driving. I am a strong advocate for EV driving and would like to encourage more people to make the switch. In light of the high input costs of a new EV, does the Minister see any possibility in the current upper limit for VRT reduction being increased? I recently purchased a second-hand EV for the first time. What is his view on introducing some tax measures specifically for second-hand EVs, allowing first-time buyers of second-hand EVs to also receive a grant towards the purchase and installation of a home charger among other things?

Sentiment score: 0.33