Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities including Meath County Council are not drawing down funding for the public charge point scheme as they are awaiting the publication of guidelines on EV charging from the CCMA; his views on whether this delay in producing the guidelines is causing serious problems for persons with electric vehicles who have shared or on-street parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27048/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Officials from my Department are participating in a working group led by the Local Authorities which is considering guidelines on EV charging. Work is ongoing and recommendations will be published in due course.

Home charging is a key component of the EV infrastructure policy. It is the most convenient and cost effective way of recharging for the EV owner and is considered the least expensive form of charging, especially using a night rate. It accounts for circa 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future. Government policy will seek to maintain this high level of home charging. On-street and destination charging also form an important part of the recharging mix. The electric vehicle strategy when published in Q3 this year will examine the future need in this area and set out a road map for between now and 2030 so that we continue to stay ahead of demand.

The Climate Action Fund (CAF) has also allocated up to €10 million to a project from ESB eCars that will further enhance its current network and complete a nationwide EV charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade. In addition to the CAF project, the Government is also providing support for home charging and on-street charging.

The Climate Action Fund/eCars investment alone will result in:

- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles

- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers

- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

The project is due to be completed in 2022.

Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at and further details on this project can be found at .

Officials from my Department have also met with representatives of the Local Authorities regarding the Dublin Area EV charging infrastructure strategy. The Department allocated €2m in support of the provision of on-street chargers to the public point scheme in 2021. Upon publication, my Department will review and amend the terms of the scheme to ensure it appropriately reflects the needs of the Local Authorities.