Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of ecar power points planned and available to the public in each local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5409/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out an extensive public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) with approximately 900 EV charge points of which circa 70 are rapid chargers.  A map showing all public charge points in Ireland, including the status and availability of the charge points, is available on the ESB’s website at www.esb.ie/ecars.The management and possible future expansion of its eCars network is an operational matter for the ESB.  The recent decision by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in relation to the future ownership of the public charging infrastructure envisages the sale of the infrastructure by ESB Networks in the long-term.  However, the continued ownership of the charging network by ESB Networks for a transitional period of up to ten years is provided for in order to safeguard those who rely on public electric vehicle charging infrastructure and result in as little impact to the network as possible in the short to medium term. 

The table, provided by ESB eCars, sets out in tabular form the number of current publically available standard and fast chargers available in each county.  It should be noted that as such, this list is limited to ESB eCars charge points and would not include any installations on private sites such as hotels.

*Each AC standard post contains two charge points

I secured additional funding in Budget 2018 to support the provision of public charging.  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 options for effective and efficient EV charging. The key objectives are supporting the operation of the existing charging network and facilitating the expansion of the network, with a particular focus on increasing the number of fast chargers.  The Taskforce held a stakeholder workshop in November 2017 to explore issues related to the future requirements for the public charging infrastructure. This workshop included representatives of EV owners, the motor industry, local authorities and other key stakeholders. Invaluable feedback was provided which will assist the taskforce in devising a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle charging.

The new Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant scheme , which came into operation on 1 January 2018, supports the cost of installing a home charger up to a maximum of €600.  Up to the end of 2017, the ESB, through its eCars programme, had installed approximately 2,500 home charge points for purchasers of new electric vehicles. The new grant scheme applies to both new and second hand battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs.