Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the electric vehicle strategy, promised in the programme for Government, which will ensure that charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24987/20]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to an electric vehicle strategy to ensure that infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This is badly needed to ensure that all of those who have the means to purchase an electric vehicle are not constrained by a lack of charging facilities. I ask the Minister for an update on the status of this strategy and what it will cover.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government published in June this year commits to publishing an electric vehicles strategy which will ensure charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. Preliminary work has already been undertaken to inform the electric vehicle, EV, charging infrastructure strategy with the completion, in June this year, of an updated needs analysis for fast chargers. This analysis had regard to the 2019 climate action plan projection of having 75,000 EVs on the road by 2022.

The needs analysis took into account a range of considerations including the importance of ensuring adequate charging infrastructure along the main commuting routes; the location of charging infrastructure in areas of high traffic volume along primary routes; the concentration of traffic in certain areas; and the importance of placing EV infrastructure across rural and urban areas.

The analysis estimated that there will be a sufficient number of fast chargers in place to meet the needs of 75,000 EVs by 2022. However, it is critical that we continue to monitor this capacity as the roll-out of charging infrastructure continues nationwide so as to ensure we stay ahead of demand.

My Department is also working closely with local government, including the Local Government Management Agency and the County and City Management Association, to ensure we can address the key issues that arise for transport and land use planning at both local and regional level.

Additional work on the strategy is currently being planned to address key strategic considerations, including regulatory and legislative requirements, the need for geospatial analyses, the financing of infrastructure and managing future electricity demand.

It is my intention to publish the strategy as early as possible in Quarter 1 2021.

Once completed, the strategy will provide a key framework for ensuring we continue to have sufficient infrastructure in place to keep ahead of demand, while also ensuring that appropriate planning and development guidelines are followed in providing the necessary capacity.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's comments. There is much that can be gleaned from them but there are a number of challenges that require urgent address. While EVs are becoming increasingly affordable, the geographic spread of the infrastructure needs to be addressed. Currently, there are 152 charging points in Dublin but only four in Leitrim and eight in Cavan. When we look at the speed the Minister mentioned, there are 742 charging points but only 80 of those are fast charging points.

One key aspect that is being raised frequently in my constituency is the installation of home chargers. The grants available from the SEAI, and much else, are welcome, but people who live in developments like my own, which are under the control of management companies and where one is going across a public road or public footpaths from the charging point to the vehicle, are facing many obstacles. When will they be able to put it chargers and make use of wanting to do what is best for the environment and modern transport?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is absolutely right. The development of chargers right across the country is critical because even if a person living in south Dublin wants to go to Leitrim, he or she would want to make sure that he or she can get there and back and that there is infrastructure at every point along the way.

A scheme to support the installation of on-street charging points for EVs opened for applications from local authorities in September 2019. The funding supports the rolling out by local authorities of up to 1,000 on-street public charging points for EVs over the next five years, including up to 400 such points this year. The scheme is administered by the SEAI and caters mainly for electric vehicle owners who rely on on-street car parking as their primary means of parking near home. I am referring not only to the Deputy’s case; I refer also to where charging is not yet possible, such as along a row of terraced houses.

So far, I have been disappointed with the level of uptake by local authorities. I only discovered these figures yesterday in preparing to answer this question. All Deputies should be contacting their local authorities to ensure that they are aware of what they can do. The level of uptake by and the number of applications from local authorities to date have been very low. One way to see an improvement would be to get the local authorities to avail of the funding that exists but that is not being utilised.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to take the Minister up on the challenge of engaging with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. We rightly look to local authorities but we must also consider the community example. One of the great successes in recent years has involved communities. An example, which may seem trivial by comparison with some initiatives associated with the Department, concerns the way local communities have been able to come together to provide defibrillators across towns and villages, not just in rural areas. I refer, in particular, to my own area. A defibrillator was used to save a life not too long ago in Stepaside village, as the Minister may be aware. Is there a facility for communities to come together to consider electric charging points without necessarily relying on the local authority? It could involve business groups that share a car parking facility, for example. It is matter of making sure that as many charging points as possible are made available.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This refers to the earlier question on solar power. Under the SEAI sustainable communities programme, a range of communities around the country are considering innovative mechanisms to develop clean energy supplies. That would be a mechanism for the Deputy's community, or any other, in seeking to develop solutions.

EV sales to date have been relatively slow by comparison with what we expected but the period of slow uptake will come to an end. We are going to see all the car companies starting to deliver a variety of EV choices in the coming year. EVs are better cars and the costs of fuel and maintenance are a fraction of those associated with other cars. Electric cars are going to be the future of motoring. Local communities, particularly those that find it difficult to get charging infrastructure, which are very often in urban areas, will best tap into the system through the community responses. It is through the SEAI community schemes that we can best manage that.