Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of grants provided by his Department to individuals purchasing electric cars in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4033/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchase Grant Scheme, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), currently provides up to €5,000 in grant support for the private purchase of a new electric car and up to €3,800 for the commercial purchase of a new electric van. The vehicles in question may be battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).

The table below indicates the total number of grants awarded from 2011 when the scheme was introduced and the annual spend in respect of the EV Purchase Grant Scheme:

The first payments for 2021 are expected to be paid shortly.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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138. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the commitment provided in Budget 2020 to double the number of local authority on-street charge points for electric vehicles in 2020; if that target was achieved; the number of charge points that were installed in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 and will continue to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support 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 electric vehicles (EVs), who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes, to charge their EVs. To date no chargers have been installed by local authorities under the scheme. The SEAI has, however, received requests from twelve local authorities for applications under the scheme and two completed applications from Louth County Council and Dublin City Council to install a total of 24 charge points within their administrative areas. These applications are currently being assessed for approval. The relevant information for the twelve local authorities who requested an application is provided in tabular form below.

My Department is working closely with key stakeholders, including local government, to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This includes helping to develop appropriate guidance for local authorities to facilitate the expansion of the national public charging network using the supports available under the Public Charge Point Scheme. I would also note that the four Dublin local authorities are currently examining a combined approach to developing a network of charging infrastructure across the metropolitan area.

Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and to support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.