John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will prioritise further investment in both depot charging for commercial electric vehicles and an expansion of the EV charging network along the national road network and key regional roads, in order to address the concerns of motorists and businesses regarding gaps in the network which are acting as a disincentive to transitioning to EVs. [36866/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated office which oversees and accelerates Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2024 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well assists in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

However, there is a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible.

A significant number of charge points are scheduled to be delivered over the next year.

The National Road EV Charging Network Plan was published in May 2024. This was followed by a government procurement process, administered by TII, to support the installation of EV charge points on the motorway network. A further support scheme to incentivise the installation of charge points on non-motorway national roads is expected this Autumn.

Under the draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan, Local Authorities are developing plans for the delivery of charging infrastructure. Local Authorities will then receive funding for the rollout of charge point infrastructure within their authorities.

Additionally, a range of new charging infrastructure schemes are being developed which will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging, including:

• A Shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which will install up to 200 fast chargers in sports clubs on the island of Ireland.

• An EU Just Transition Fund supported scheme, which is planned to install 60-80 chargers in the Just Transition area in the midlands.

• Local Authority pilot schemes, funding the roll out of EV charging in Local Authorities who have already developed local EV network plans, while supporting the development of local EV Network plans in other areas.

These new sites, in addition to those under other destination schemes currently planned will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.

Depot charging remains a matter for individual operators, however ZEVI is continuously monitoring the state of the charging environment with regard to the needs of van and heavy duty vehicle operators. Recent investments by the private sector as well as coordinated schemes administered by TII to install faster and heavy duty charging along motorways and national primary routes will support the transition of such vehicles and as noted ZEVI will consider any viable proposal to increase supports to the sector.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in the context of Budget 2025, he will prioritise further investment in Ireland’s EV charging network in order to support the transition to EVs. [36867/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years.

The EV Charging infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025 sets out the Government’s ambition regarding the delivery of this network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

This includes the National Road EV Charging Network Plan and the draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan.

The former will provide for the installation of high power charging infrastructure along the Motorway and National road Network to meet National targets set at EU level.

The latter plan provides a pathway for the accelerated delivery of regional and local EV charging infrastructure at destination and neighbourhood areas, in line with both national and European ambitions for cleaner transportation and will be led by Local Authorities.

In line with Climate Action Plan targets and EU Regulatory requirements - while continuing to incentivise the switch to EVs - we are moving Exchequer supports for fleet electrification towards building out charging infrastructure. This change also aligns with similar polices in European nations, where countries have begun to taper vehicle subsidies and shift government investment towards infrastructure. Having an effective and reliable charging network is essential to support the transition to EVs.