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Electric Vehicles

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

Questions (130, 224)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

130. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if local authorities have highlighted issues with accessing funding for e-car charging points; if he is satisfied with the roll out of e-car charging points across the country by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35125/20]

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Patricia Ryan

Question:

224. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if Laois and Kildare county councils have applied for the electric vehicle public charge point grant; the reason for the low uptake of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35207/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 224 together.

The Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 and will continue to be available during 2021 to provide funding to local authorities for the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of EVs, who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes, to charge their EVs.

My Department, via the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, currently provides a grant of up to €5,000 to support the installation of these charge points. Since the launch of the scheme, the SEAI has received requests from twelve local authorities for applications under the scheme with two completed applications from Louth County Council and Dublin City Council currently being assessed for approval to install a total of 24 charge points within their respective jurisdictions. In addition, the four Dublin local authorities are currently examining their approach for a network of charging infrastructure in the metropolitan area.

The SEAI have advised that no issues have been raised by Local Authorities in relation to accessing funding under the public charge scheme. It is clear however that local authorities are facing some challenges around planning and operational matters which can be potentially complex with respect to installing charging infrastructure in appropriate locations. The Department is working closely with the sector and other key stakeholders on the issues concerned and while uptake to date under the SEAI scheme has been slow thus far, I fully expect this to change in the months ahead as local authorities look to adopt a more strategic approach for how they will avail of the generous grants that are available under the public charge point scheme.

Local Government has been to the forefront in recent times in addressing the climate challenge and the sector will have a key role to play in helping to decarbonise our national fleet through facilitating the provision of EV charging infrastructure in appropriate locations at both the local and regional level.  

In this regard it should be noted that my Department is working closely with a number of key stakeholders, including Local Government, on developing a strategy to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This includes developing appropriate guidance for local authorities in line with the Programme for Government which will ensure we can continue to expand our national charging network through the supports for on street chargers.

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