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Electric Vehicles

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Questions (104, 106, 114)

Seán Canney

Question:

104. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle charging points available nationwide; the number that are high-speed charging points; the number located in County Galway; the number of high-speed charging points in County Galway; if a map of the locations of same in County Galway is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9731/21]

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Michael Ring

Question:

106. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the number of electric vehicle chargers for public use in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9757/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

114. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to expand the network of charging points for electric vehicles in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9963/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106 and 114 together.

Deputies will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.

We have committed €10 million from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to promote the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:

- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles

- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers

- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

The project is due to be completed in 2022.

Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map.

In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of the number of charge points provided by county, I have forwarded the Deputies' questions to the ESB for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.

While several private operators such as Tesla, Ionity & EasyGO are involved in providing charging infrastructure, my Department does not hold information on the location of charging infrastructure which has been installed without government support. I am aware, however, that ESB has partnered with Tesco Ireland to install 22kW Standard AC Chargers at 33 Tesco locations around the country in the last number of months. More than 50 of these are planned in total. My Department is also making €2 million available next year through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as hotels and shopping centres. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.

In addition to the ESB project, my Department also provides support through the SEAI Public Charge Point Scheme which has been in place since September 2019 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 those EV owners who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles on public streets, by enabling them to charge their EVs near their homes. A total of 75% of the capital costs is provided through a grant, up to a maximum of €5,000 per charge point. My Department will continue to support this scheme through the grants provided by SEAI and in parallel is also developing a charging infrastructure strategy, in line with the Programme for Government, which will ensure capacity keeps ahead of demand.

Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. To support home charging, the SEAI, on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.

Question No. 105 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 106 answered with Question No. 104.
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