Ireland's €1 Million Zero-Emissions HGV Fund Underutilized, Only €188,000 Spent on Admin
Less than €200,000 of Ireland's €1 million fund for zero-emissions HGV infrastructure was spent last year, with €188,000 on admin. Labour TD Ciarán Ahern highlighted the low uptake, citing affordability and infrastructure gaps. He urged the government to increase grants to incentivize hauliers to switch to cleaner vehicles.
Less than €200,000 of a €1 million State fund designated for zero-emissions heavy goods vehicle (HGV) infrastructure was expended last year, with €188,000 of that amount allocated to administrative costs, the Dáil was informed. Labour TD Ciarán Ahern highlighted that this low uptake underscores the significant barriers hauliers encounter when transitioning to cleaner vehicles.
Deputy Ahern noted that only one grant was actually utilized from the entire infrastructure scheme. He further pointed out that while 4.5% of HGVs across Europe are zero-emissions, Ireland's figure stands at just over 1%. In stark contrast, China's rate reaches up to 25%, positioning it as a global leader in this sector. Speaking to RTÉ News, Deputy Ahern clarified that HGVs and electric vehicles (EVs) cannot share the same charging infrastructure.
He emphasized that the current funding levels are insufficient to bridge the affordability gap, expressing disbelief that the fund remains largely unused. Addressing the Minister for Transport in the Dáil, Deputy Ahern also mentioned that up to half of zero-emissions grants for EVs are not being drawn down. Minister Darragh O'Brien acknowledged Deputy Ahern's concerns as a «fair point».
Minister O'Brien observed that while many white van vehicles have transitioned to EVs and hybrids, HGV operators are much slower to adopt these changes, attributing this to the weight carried by these vehicles. Deputy Ahern reiterated hauliers' concerns regarding both the scarcity of charging infrastructure and the high cost of electric vehicles. He urged the Government to simplify the decision for hauliers to purchase zero-emissions vehicles, specifically by increasing the vehicle purchase grant to equalize the cost of buying a diesel or an electric HGV. Minister O'Brien responded, «Your point is well made.» Following the debate, Deputy Ahern concluded, «Nobody is using (the HGV grant scheme), so Government need to understand why that isn't happening.»