Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. Our climate action target of almost one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 is a challenging one which needs to be matched by meeting the equal challenge of providing enough charging points to meet demand. We are pleased to say that we are currently ahead of our vehicle uptake projections and we now have a robust roadmap under the national EV charging infrastructure strategy to further develop sustainable charging options for users.

In July 2022, a new dedicated office, zero emission vehicles Ireland, also known as ZEVI, was established within the Department of Transport to oversee and accelerate Ireland's transition to zero emission vehicles. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. . It is also an essential part of ensuring just and equal access to EVs across Ireland, including in rural areas. There is a key purpose and function of ZEVI and one which has whole-of-government support.

The first thing to note is that home charging is a viable and preferred option for EV users. In Ireland, about 80% of EV users have, or will have, the option of charging at home. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it is convenient and cheaper for the customer as well as assisting the overall management of the national grid by encouraging off-peak electricity use. The Government strongly encourages and incentivises use of home charging through a home charger purchase grant scheme, which was updated last year to include apartments and allow chargers to be installed without proof of EV ownership. For those unable to charge at home, improving access to public, destination and en routecharging is a priority for ZEVI. Later this year, a new residential charging scheme will launch to encourage installation of chargers in areas where home charging is not possible. This will seek to replicate the home charging experience for those without a driveway or off-street parking.

For destination charging, a number of schemes are launching in 2023 which will incentivise the roll-out of faster charging to facilitate quick top-ups or potentially to provide a faster, once-a-week charge. So far in 2023, ZEVI has launched a scheme to install chargers at sports clubs. It is preparing to launch a community centre scheme in the summer, and will also develop a general scheme to help install chargers at commercial sites and visitor locations towards the end of the year. Additionally, ZEVI is actively considering the requirements for en route, high-powered charging infrastructure which is focused on our motorways and national routes and facilitates those persons who need to charge quickly when on longer journeys, or operating a commercial route.

It is important to note that improving the charging network does not stop at simply increasing the number of chargers. ZEVI is also developing standards for payment, accessibility and data which will ensure the network is available to as many users as possible, assess how the network is performing and identify charging demands. With a sustained increase in home charging, a growing network of destination chargers and en route, high-powered charging, and with a focus on usability, the Government is looking to create an adaptable and accessible network of chargers, which is intended to meet the needs of all EV users. A robust charging network will allow EVs to play their part in the wider decarbonisation of transport, which is such a key part of Ireland's wider climate goals. Again, this is a challenge but one the Government intends to meet.

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