Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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763. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the changes he will introduce to prevent sleepers staying at electronic charge points over and above the time necessary. [23577/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The majority of public chargers in use in Ireland are part of the ESB ecars network. Currently there are no fees for using this charging network which can lead to consumers using the network in place of charging at home or using it for longer than they need. I understand that ESB ecars intends to introduce fees for the use of fast chargers later this year and standard chargers in 2020. This will encourage electric vehicle drivers to charge at home where possible thus ensuring the public chargers have a higher level of availability.

In relation to the use of spaces for electric vehicle charging, there is existing legislation in place, namely the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 to 2014 (S.I. No. 182 of 1997) as amended by the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Car Clubs and Electrically Powered Vehicles) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 325 of 2014). These regulations explicitly prohibit a non-electric vehicle stopping or parking in designated spaces and outlines how these spaces are only to be used by electric vehicles while being recharged. The enforcement of this legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána and for Local Authority traffic wardens.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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764. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the roll-out of additional charge points for electric vehicles across the country will be completed. [23578/19]

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.

There are currently over 650 standard public charge points and 78 fast chargers as a part of the ESB eCars network. In addition there are public chargers provided by local authorities, retail outlets and private companies.

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. This project successfully completed the assessment stage and the validation stage is now underway.

The project includes the installation of 90 high-power chargers each of which will be capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously, upgrading 50 existing standard chargers to fast chargers and replacing over 250 existing standard chargers with next generation high reliability models. This is a multi-annual project and is expected to be fully completed by 2022.

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