Written answers

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Electric Vehicles

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the local authorities that have applied for funding to the SEAI to roll-out electric vehicle chargers; the number for which they have applied; and the number which have been installed and the grant paid in tabular form. [36936/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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. A national charging infrastucture strategy is due for publication later this year which will set out a pathway to stay ahead of demand over the critical period out to 2030. My Department has begun an engagement with the Local Authorities to inform this work.

I am also aware that work is advancing by the CCMA on the provision of guidance to local authorities on the provision of charging infrastructure. The sub-committee preparing this document is being chaired by Wicklow County Council.

In terms of existing supports for public charging, the Public Charge Point Scheme continues 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, 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. My Department has committed to reviewing the Scheme in early Autumn to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.

Thirteen local authorities have been in touch with SEAI in relation to the scheme with both Louth County Council and Dublin City Council making official applications for 20 charge points and nine charge points respectively. Letters of offer issued last week to both County Councils and the funding total is outlined in the below table.

Item Count Charging Stations Charging Points* Value (Total)
Applications Approved 3 19 29 €143,038
Applications Expired/Cancelled/Rejected - - -
Applications Under Review - - -
Total Applications 3 19 29 €143,038

*A charging station can be dual which results in two charge points being available for cars to use.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fast chargers and their capacity put in place by the ESB; and the progress that it has made in installing new electric vehicle chargers under the support scheme from the Climate Action Fund. [36937/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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.

€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention 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

To date, some 235 of the existing standard chargers have already been replaced with more and reliable charging points. A further 28 advanced and future proofed, fast chargers have also been installed. The recently launched High Power Charging Hub at Junction 14 is the first super hub to be delivered. The project is due to be completed in 2022.

Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map

In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of this project including the provision of rapid charge points, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the ESB for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.

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