Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
198. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications approved and number of charge points delivered by county under the public point charge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54591/21]
View answer199. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the progress being made under the eCar scheme; the number of high-powered charging points, fast charging points and replacement charging points installed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54592/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.
The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years.
My Department is currently developing a national charging infrastructure strategy that will set out a pathway to stay ahead of EV demand over the critical period out to 2030.
€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB, with the infrastructure to be in place by the end of 2022.
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
Further details on the progression of this project can be found at esb.ie/ecars/our-network/network-upgrades.
In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of the installation of charge points under the eCar scheme, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the ESB for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.
In terms of supports for public charging under the Public Charge Point Scheme, this scheme continues to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of the scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles, who do not have access to a private parking space, but instead rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes to charge their EVs. My Department has committed to reviewing the Scheme shortly to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.
To date, Louth County Council and Dublin City Council have been allocated funding under the local authority public charge point scheme. This funding will see an additional 29 charge points rolled out for public use. I encourage all other local authorities to follow Louth and Dublin’s lead so we can grow this scheme all over the country.
