Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
221. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that the necessary electric vehicle charging infrastructure is being rolled out across the country to meet the increasing demand for owners of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5192/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the funding streams that are allocated to each local authority for the funding of electric vehicles. [12198/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the funding streams provided to each local authority for the funding of e-charging points. [12199/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his engagement with local authorities in rolling out and increasing the numbers of e-car charging points for Cork city and County Cork; the level of uptake from local authorities on funding available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for e-car charging points for Cork city and County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 225, 226 and 232 together.
The Deputy 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. A national charging infrastructure strategy is due for publication shortly which will set out a pathway to stay ahead of demand over the critical period out to 2025.
Preparations are underway to establish an Office of Low Emission Vehicles. This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.
Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Charging at home is the most convenient and cheapest way to recharge. Targeting the installation of smart home chargers is a priority as we look to moving towards more energy efficient and sustainable ways to charge. A grant is available from the SEAI for those individuals seeking to install a home charger. Work is currently being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include shared parking in apartment blocks and similar developments. My Department is working closely with the SEAI and expects a scheme for apartments to open in the near future.
There is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging, and workplace charging.
€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund 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.
There is a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging, and workplace charging.
In terms of existing supports for public charging, the Public Charge Point Scheme, which is administered by the SEAI, provides 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. It should be noted that this scheme facilitates the installation of standard charge points.
My Department has committed to reviewing the Scheme later this year to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.
Thirteen local authorities have been in touch with SEAI in relation to the Public Points Scheme including Cork County Council. However no application has been submitted to date. Cork City Council have not contacted the SEAI in relation to this scheme. Letters of offer have issued to Louth County Council and Dublin City Council in 2021, to install a total of 29 charge points within their administrative areas.
I am also aware that a report was published by the CCMA on the provision of guidance to local authorities on the provision of charging infrastructure. The document is available for viewing online at www.lgma.ie/en/publications/general-publications/local-authority-electrification-of-fleet-and-ev-charging-guidance.pdf
My Department is also developing a new scheme which will support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as visitor centres and parks. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.
