Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to introduce a second ESB fast-car charger in Cavan town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29526/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of the provision of 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.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. A draft national charging infrastructure strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025 was published for consultation in March. The draft strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 194,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy for publication.

Preparations are underway to establish Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland. This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.

€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB, with the infrastructure to be in place by the end of 2022. This intervention alone will result in:

- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles - Seventeen high-power chargers distributed across 14 multi-vehicle hubs have been delivered as part of the programme to date.

- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers - This work is completed at 36 locations and delivery of new, faster and higher capacity technology is awaited to complete this element of the program, due in August and the upgrade program will resume then. The remaining locations have all been identified and surveyed.

- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points - This work is substantially complete. 258 of the chargers have now been successfully replaced.

Further details on the progression of this project can be found at esb.ie/ecars/our-network/network-upgrades.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to an issue in relation to fast car chargers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29528/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for the policy framework and strategy in relation to the provision of public chargepoints. My Department recently published its draft EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy, which can be viewed online.

The issue raised is an operational matter for ESB Networks, which operates the chargepoint referred to by the Deputy, and I have therefore forwarded her question to that company for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.