Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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609. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the provision of charge points for electric cars throughout the country; if he will introduce measures to increase the number of charge points which are in working order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24182/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Government is committed to facilitating the increased take up of low emitting vehicle technology.

My Department carried out a public consultation in October and November last on a draft national policy framework for alternative fuels infrastructure to support the deployment of alternative fuels in Ireland.  Submissions received have been considered and I expect to finalise and publish the National Policy Framework in the coming weeks.

My Department, together with the Department for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, have convened an Interdepartmental Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) Task Force to consider the range of measures and options available to Government for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of low carbon technologies, especially EVs, in line with the "Programme for a Partnership Government" commitment.  The LEV Task Force has begun its work and it is reviewing a range of possible measures to encourage increased take up of LEVs.  Progress being made by the Taskforce will be available on my Department's website.

EV infrastructure, particularly the provision of electric car charge points, is a key element in the context of policy support to EV usage and this is being specifically considered by an infrastructure working group of the Taskforce. The ESB provide and maintain the current network, and they and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) sit on this particular Working Group which is chaired by the Department for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.

The ESB has recently made a commitment to fit as many home-charging points for electric vehicles as required this year, above and beyond the 2,000 that had originally been envisaged under the 'free home-charge point' scheme for EV buyers who qualify for the SEAI grant. 1,750 home points have been installed to date and it is anticipated that increasing sales will indeed require the ESB to exceed 2,000 installations.

It is also important to note that the Commission for Energy Regulation is currently finalising its consideration of the future disposition of the assets and infrastructure of the national public charge point network.