Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of charging points for electric vehicles that are located at the offices of his Department in Newbridge, County Kildare and at all Defence Forces barracks; the plans that are in place to increase same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5665/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently no Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points at the Department’s offices in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. However, the Department of Defence is currently investigating the options available to it regarding EV Charging Points in Newbridge, including the number of EV Charging spaces it may require and the need for installing extra cabling to allow for future demand.

There are 19 EV chargers in DF Installations for use by military vehicles only. The Defence Forces are currently installing nine EV charge pedestals in McKee Barracks for military and privately owned vehicle use. This pilot project will inform the Defence Forces on the way forward for the roll out of similar EV charge points in other Defence Forces installations.

Future actions by the Department of Defence in this area will be guided by Government policy regarding EV’s and other low Emissions Vehicles (LEV’s) as set out in the National Planning Framework and the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). While the Department is investigating future options for EV charging points at its premises, as referenced in National Development Plan under Transport, home charging is considered the primary method of charging for the majority of EVs in Ireland and is considered the least expensive form of charging, especially when utilising a night rate. It accounts for around 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future.