Free parking in cities may be used as incentive for drivers to switch to electric cars

Drivers may be given free parking in cities, road toll exemptions and other tax measures as part of new measures to convince them to swap existing cars for eco-friendly electric alternatives.

The potential move will be outlined at cabinet today, during a meeting which will also see the Government reveal fresh plans to entice the multi-million euro European Medicines Agency and European Banking Authority from London post-Brexit and confirm the €5 social welfare budget rises will take effect from March 17.

Under environmental protection plans first announced by the previous Fine Gael-Labour coalition in 2014, it was intended that up to 50,000 electric cars would be in use in Ireland by 2020.