Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

285. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocated to the public charge point scheme in 2021; the spend on the scheme in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of charge points constructed in each county under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31844/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.

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 the 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 instead rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes to charge their EVs. €2m has been allocated to this scheme in 2021.

The SEAI has received requests for applications under the scheme from 13 local authorities and two completed applications from Louth County Council and Dublin City Council to install a total of 29 charge points within their administrative areas. These applications are currently being assessed for approval and it is expected that letters of offer will be issued in the near future.