James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to prepare legislation for motorway filling stations to increase the number of rapid charging points for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3441/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Preparations are under way to establish an Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), as recommended in the Electric Vehicles Policy Pathway Report; this will play an important role in our transition to zero-emission vehicles. OLEV will co-ordinate measures, including legislation as required, to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.

Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. In support of EV adoption, a National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy is in development which will seek to prioritise the delivery of fast and rapid charge point infrastructure over the next 5 years including along the motorway network.

Specifically, the Strategy will consider the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) which proposes that Member States expand public recharging capacity in line with zero-emission car sales as well as installing dedicated light and heavy-duty vehicle recharging points at regular intervals (every 60kms) on major highways (TEN-T core and comprehensive network) from 2025 onwards.

AFIR will ensure the rapid and coherent development of an interoperable, wide-spread network of greener refuelling and recharging infrastructure network across the EU. The Government recognises that the provision of sufficient and suitable charging and alternative fuelling facilities is a key enabler of the transition to zero- and low-emission vehicles.