Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Electric Vehicles

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1006. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of new electric vehicle charging points installed since the announcement of extra funding in 2019 to install charging areas nationwide; the number of electric vehicle charging points available in each county since the announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5033/20]

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to improve the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5469/20]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1006 and 1017 together.

Investment and regulatory decisions by the Government are supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the next few years.  

€10 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund to promote the charging network and this has leveraged another €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:

1. 90 additional high power chargers (150kW), each capable of charging two vehicles

2. 52 additional fast chargers (50kW), which may replace existing 22 kW standard chargers

3. 264 replacement standard chargers (22kW) to more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

Since the delivery stage of the project commenced last October 2019, 141 22kW chargers, each with two charge points, have been replaced bringing the total number of these chargers nationally to 282. The locations of these chargers are set out in the following table.

County New 22 kW Charger Replacements since Oct 2019 Total Charge Points available
Carlow 4 8
Cavan 3 6
Clare 6 12
Cork 17 34
Donegal 5 10
Dublin 23 46
Galway 8 16
Kerry 8 16
Kildare 8 16
Kilkenny 1 2
Laois 3 6
Leitrim 1 2
Limerick 5 10
Longford 2 4
Louth 2 4
Mayo 5 10
Meath 7 14
Monaghan 3 6
Offaly 2 4
Roscommon 2 4
Sligo 3 6
Tipperary 6 12
Waterford 6 12
Westmeath 2 4
Wexford 7 14
Wicklow 2 4
Total 141 282 

In addition, the first two multi charger sites have been delivered, one each in Galway (M6) and Kildare (M9). A number of other multi charger sites are at planning and design stage and their locations will be announced in due course.  In addition, the programme to upgrade 50 22kW chargers to 50kW chargers has commenced, with installations in Dublin, Cavan, and Meath and once construction activities reconvene, a number of other sites will begin in Galway, Kerry, Louth, Sligo and Westmeath.

An interactive map showing ESB charger locations can be found at .

Since September 2019, the Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place to provide funding to local authorities for the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of EVs, who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles on public streets, to charge their EVs near their homes. 

Home charging is the most cost-effective method of charging, followed by on-street public charging and then destination charging. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. Combined with a public charging network, Ireland’s home charging network will help sustain and service the growth in electric vehicle numbers.

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