Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans with regard to the future charging network following a recent decision by the regulator on the future financing of the public charging points for electric vehicles. [49010/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Following a public consultation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities last month published its decision on the future ownership of the electric vehicle charging network.  A key outcome of the decision is that the charging network should not form part of the regulated asset base and therefore expansions of the network should not be funded from network charges.  This is in keeping with the proposals published last year by the European Commission in the Clean Energy for All Europeans package.   

The decision also sets out the need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to operate on a commercial basis.  Currently, recharging electric vehicles at public charge points is free and unlimited.  Deputies will, however, appreciate that free fuel for electric vehicles, funded by electricity consumers, is not sustainable in the longer term. At the same time, it is  important that if payments for use of public charge points are introduced in the future, they are at a level which does not disincentivise the uptake of electric vehicles.

The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is considering a range of measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles.  A key focus of the work of the Taskforce is examining options for infrastructure, regulation and pricing in order to devise a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle charging.

The Taskforce is assessing the decision of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in its examination of the future requirements for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.  The work of the Taskforce is well underway and has already resulted in a package of measures in Budget 2018 designed to promote a low carbon, electric vehicle future.  The Taskforce is also planning a stakeholder workshop later this month to explore issues related to the future requirements for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.