Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
799. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of electric vehicle fast charging points in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; if matters raised by a person (details supplied) in correspondence will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8319/20]
View answer829. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of electronic car charging points in County Monaghan; the locations of same; his plans for new charging points in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 799 and 829 together.
Under the first call for applications from the Climate Action Fund, I approved funding of up to €10 million to support ESB eCars to develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network. ESB eCars will also contribute an additional €10 million to support the roll out of this initiative.
Since the project began in September 2019, ESB has focused on the replacement of aging problematic chargers in the existing network which results in new charging points being established. Since October 2019 three Standard AC chargers have been replaced in County Cavan, with a further ten being replaced in Counties Meath (7) and Monaghan (3).
In the last week, with the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, standard AC chargers in Kells and Cavan Town have been replaced with new DC Fast chargers, providing much higher charging speeds. There are currently two fast chargers and five Standard AC chargers in Monaghan county. Three of these have recently been replaced.
The locations of ESB eCars charge points presently in Co Monaghan are listed as follows.
|
Standard |
Fast |
|
Old Cross Square, Monaghan Town, Monaghan |
Circle K service station, Emmyvale Road, Coolshanagh, Monaghan Town |
|
Off Thomas Street, Castleblaney, Monaghan |
|
|
Market Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan |
|
|
Louis Convent, Castle Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan |
|
|
Town Centre Car Park, Off Fermanagh Street, Clones, Monaghan |
|
More multi-fast charger sites are currently in the planning phase for locations across the country and will be delivered in the coming months. These sites are being selected based on a range of factors including the level of traffic, current charge point usage (if applicable), electrical grid capacity, site host terms of agreement, rest facilities available, accessibility and the physical space at the site for the required equipment.
The charge point replacements including total AC charge points for the three counties are set out in the following table:
|
County |
AC Charger Replacements Each With Two Points |
Total AC Charge Points |
|
Cavan |
3 |
6 |
|
Meath |
7 |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
6 |
When it comes to home charging the Government currently provides up to €600 to support the costs of installation which covers a significant proportion of the average installation cost of a home charger.
