Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to support the roll out of rapid charge points for electric vehicles. [41904/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out an extensive public network of charging points across Ireland.  With approximately 900 electric vehicle charge points, for a country of our size, we have one of the more comprehensive charge point networks in Europe.As battery technology develops, the range of electric cars will grow and higher capacity charging will be needed to support quicker charge times and longer travelling ranges.

The provision of electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly the installation of public charging points, is a key focus of the work of the Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce.  The Taskforce is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is examining options for infrastructure, regulation and pricing in order to devise a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle recharging. The work of the Taskforce is well underway with a stakeholder engagement event in July helping inform proposals in relation to Budget 2018.

Large car manufacturers are also expected to become involved in the provision of high-powered infrastructure.A number of providers are likely to emerge onto the Irish market in the coming years. Through its dealer network Nissan already has a number of charge points available through its dealer network and Tesla has recently opened its first supercharger location in Ireland.