Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of electric vehicle charging points that are available for use by staff across all carparks provided for use by his Department throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7382/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs operates three diesel-powered vans that are used for delivery of official post and other items between our thirteen buildings in the State, most notably Iveagh House and our Passport Service buildings in Mount Street, Balbriggan and Cork. Post is also routinely delivered to other Government Departments and agencies and to diplomatic corps embassies based in Dublin. It is planned to replace all three vehicles, in order of age and condition, with electric vehicles by 2024. Two EV charging points have been installed in the car park at the rear of Iveagh House, and the Office of Public Works will be requested to install additional charging points at the Passport Service buildings in Balbriggan and Cork for use of staff and corporate vehicles. This is but one of sixty initiatives already achieved or actively being pursued under a Green Foreign Ministry initiative that I launched in July 2019 aimed at mainstreaming and enhancing sustainability right across the Department’s headquarters buildings and Ireland’s diplomatic missions.