Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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492. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if assistance is available, in the form of grants or otherwise, to enable rural service stations or others to provide power points for the charging of electric vehicles to ensure nationwide coverage of power points, thus facilitating an increase in the number of environmentally friendly vehicles on roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9559/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Businesses, including service stations, in both rural and urban areas can avail of Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This scheme enables businesses invest in energy efficient equipment including electric charging infrastructure and write down the cost of such equipment in the year of purchase rather than over 8 years.

Funding for public charging in local communities is available through the Better Energy Communities Scheme. The scheme, which is administered by the SEAI, supports community-based partnerships – many of which include local businesses and enterprises. Support is provided to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community facilities in a local area.

In November, I announced the successful projects under the first Call for Applications Assessment Stage under the Climate Action Fund. This included funding of up to €10 million to an ESB eCars project that will develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade.

In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the SEAI, is working on how best to support the provision of greater levels of on-street public charging.