Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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401. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of electric vehicle charging points available by county in tabular form; the number of electric vehicle charging points which are expected to be rolled out by county in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14985/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure continued growth in electric vehicles. Home charging is the most cost-effective way to charge an electric vehicle and is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. A Government grant of up to €600 is available, via the SEAI, to the purchasers of new and second-hand electric vehicles to support the installation of home chargers.

Under the first call for applications from the Climate Action Fund, I approved funding of up to €10 million to support ESB eCars to develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network. The project includes the installation of 90 high-power chargers, upgrading 50 existing standard chargers to fast chargers and replacing over 250 existing standard chargers with next generation high reliability models.

This project successfully completed the assessment stage and the validation stage is now underway. On completion of this stage further detail on the project, including information in relation to the location of chargers and a timeline, will be set out.

At the end of 2018, there were over 7,600 electric vehicles on the road in Ireland – a doubling of the total from the previous year. It is estimated that the implementation of the ESB eCars project will provide the necessary fast charging infrastructure to support at least 40,000 electric vehicles.

The following table, provided to my Department by ESB eCars, sets out the number of publically available standard charge points and fast chargers on the eCars network in each county. In addition there are public chargers provided by local authorities, retail outlets and private companies.

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. 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.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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402. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when electric chargers for electric cars will be back up and running in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15006/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The majority of the existing network of publicly accessible charge points were rolled out by the ESB through its eCars programme. This network includes over 650 standard public charge points and 78 fast chargers, mainly on national routes to facilitate longer journeys. A map showing the charge points, including their status and availability, is available on the ESB's website at www.esb.ie/ecars. The operation and maintenance of these charge points is a matter for ESB eCars and therefore not in my remit, however, my Department has contacted ESB eCars regarding charging post locations in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. In addition, to a fast charger in Monaghan town, the charging post locations, each with 2 standard charging points, are as follows;Monaghan

- Louis Convent, Castle Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan,

- Market Street, Carrickmacross, Monaghan

- Off Thomas Street, Castleblaney, Monaghan

- Old Cross Square, Monaghan, Monaghan

- Town Centre Car Park, Off Fermanagh Street, Clones, Monaghan

Cavan

- Main Street, Bailieborough, Cavan

- The Grove, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan

- Market Street, Cootehill, Cavan

- Dublin Road, Cavan Town, Cavan

- Farnham Street, Cavan, Cavan

Of these charge points, The Grove, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan and Town Centre Car Park, Clones, Monaghan have issues which cannot be repaired. These are marked as not being currently operational on the ESB eCars' online map.

These units are due to be replaced towards the end of the year when ESB takes delivery of replacement units. The remaining units are operational.