Transport Minister Signals Return of €5,000 EV Scrappage Scheme for 2027
Thursday 17 September 2026
The Minister for Transport has indicated that a €5,000 electric vehicle scrappage scheme could return next year after a pilot scheme closed within 75 minutes.
The Minister for Transport has indicated plans to reintroduce a €5,000 electric vehicle scrappage scheme next year following a highly successful pilot.
Minister Darragh O’Brien described the previous pilot scheme as "extremely successful" and indicated his intention to run the initiative again next year.
Pilot Performance and Criteria
Under the pilot initiative, which launched in July, drivers were offered a €5,000 scrappage grant to trade in cars that were more than 13 years old. In return, participants were required to transition to a fully electric vehicle.
Key rules of the pilot included:
- **Age of Vehicle:** The traded-in car had to be older than 13 years.
- **Vehicle Restrictions:** The grant was strictly limited to new, fully electric vehicles and was not available for second-hand cars.
- **Grant Stacking:** The €5,000 scrappage grant was provided in addition to the existing €3,500 grant already available for purchasing an electric vehicle.
Immediate Demand
Upon its launch in July, the pilot scheme reached its application limit within 75 minutes of going online. Minister O'Brien told *The Journal* that the scheme succeeded in removing 2,000 older cars from the road in less than 90 minutes.