Electric car grants proposed for first-time car buyers

Senator Joe O'Reilly has proposed new electric car grant for young drivers

Young drivers should be incentivised with a special grant to buy an electric car as their first car, a Fine Gael Senator has proposed.

Senator Joe O'Reilly believes his innovative proposal will encourage new drivers to drive electric or hybrid cars and develop a green consciousness.

Speaking in the Seanad, Mr O'Reilly said: "I think that we should incentivise young drivers with an extra bit of money, an extra grant to make their first car an electric car or a hybrid.

"The reason for that is that if the person gets their first car and it is electric or a hybrid car, then they will get a green consciousness and environmental consciousness, a pride in their electric car that will expand out into other facets of their lives.

"They will start then to get solar panels on their houses and do other things in the climate change area," he added.

"I am specifically proposing that we give extra money to young drivers to drive an electric car as their first car."

He invited Minster for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton to come before the Seanad to hear about his proposal.

Senator O'Reilly also said that there needs to be focus on better infrastructure such as more charging points being made available for the cars.

Responding to the proposal, Seanad leader Jerry Buttimer said it is a "very interesting and considered" proposal as "there is great foresight in it."

He agreed that Mr Bruton should be invited into the Upper House to discuss it further.