Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
104. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the mechanisms in place for persons residing in private apartment complexes to install electric car chargers at their own cost in their parking spaces or to encourage management companies to allow residents to do so as in the case of residents in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14793/20]
View answerHome charging accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle (EV) charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. Government policy is to promote home charging and to maintain the current high level of home charging.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit for those with access to an off-street parking space which can be connected to their domestic supply.
The SEAI also administers an EV Public Charge Point Grant to Local Authorities to install charge points on public streets or public car parks which provide overnight car parking for local residents. A total of 75% of the capital costs is provided through the grant, up to a maximum of €5,000 per charge point.
The Climate Action Plan set out a number of steps necessary to develop the EV charging network and work is being progressed to expand the EV Home Charger Grant to include shared parking (i.e. in apartment blocks). However, there is a number of complex planning and legal issues to address before it will be possible to expand this grant. My Department and the SEAI are working to address the issues involved.
