Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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9. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fast chargers 50 and 43 and super-fast chargers 150 and 70 for electric vehicles that are currently available in County Louth; the Government’s plans to make more available in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31355/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There are 16 public charging points on the ESB eCars network in Co. Louth presently, not including private home charging points or chargers managed by other network providers, comprising -

- 12 AC 22 kW charging stations (each AC station provides for two charge points), and

- 4 fast charger type (50/43kW).

There are currently no ESB eCars high power, or super, chargers in Co. Louth.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle 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 (ZEVI). 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.

As well as the ESB eCars network there are a number of private charge point operators with sites already live in Ireland. Once established, ZEVI will be tasked with developing a single interactive portal for mapping the location and availability of all publicly accessible EV charging points and provide offer a central source of information to EV owners.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to increase the grants available for fully electric vehicles in order to reach targets for carbon emissions reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31356/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2021 Climate Action Plan, and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 945,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years.

As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners and taxi drivers, VRT relief, reduced tolls, home charger grants, favourable motor and BIK tax rates, as well as a comprehensive charging network.

These measures have collectively contributed to increased take up of EVs in Ireland in recent years, albeit from a low base, to over 58,000 at the end of April.

In addition, the Department convened the Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway (EVPP) Working Group to produce a roadmap to achieving the 2030 EV target. The recommendations of the EVPP Working Group were approved by Government and the full report is available online.

In line with the Group’s recommendations to support the transition to EVs:  

- The generous suite of EV supports already in place in Ireland has been retained until at least end-2022. Work is ongoing to identify additional measures to further incentivise EVs and/or disincentivise fossil-fuelled vehicles. Overall, cost-effective, targeted policy supports will continue to be developed and strengthened over the coming years  

- Work is under way to establish Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), as a matter of priority, to co-ordinate the implementation of existing and future EV measures and infrastructure.  

Overall, the Department is acutely aware that the cost of electric vehicles remains an issue for many consumers. To this end, electric vehicle policy - including grants - is kept under continuous review with the objective of making low-emission vehicles affordable.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to tackle the lack of supply of electric cars in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31357/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2021 Climate Action Plan and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 945,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years.

As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners, purchase grants for eSPSVs, a discounted scheme for EV toll users, and grant schemes to support the purpose and installation of home chargers.

Despite increasing demand from Irish drivers for EVs, the supply of electric vehicles - not just to the Irish market, but internationally - has become increasingly constrained by a number of global supply-side issues. My Department is engaging with the commerical sector in order to identify measures to optimise the supply of such vehicles to private commercial companies operating within the Irish market.

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the conversion of the internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles; if his Department has carried out any research into the merits of the practice; if any grant funding is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31358/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Department of Transport is aware of initiatives in the area of conversion of internal combustion engine vehicles to electric and is giving the matter active consideration.

Innovations that provide reliable solutions for people who are willing to transition to electric vehicles are to be welcomed, particularly if they provide options for people who might otherwise be unable to afford a new vehicle.

Officials in my Department have engaged with organisations within the motor industry providing an ICE vehicle to EV conversion option. It appears that at this point in time, due to costs and battery size and range, the conversion is not yet feasible of being delivered at scale. There is also a scarcity of suitable batteries due to global supply chain issues.

Once these feasibility issues can be resolved satisfactorily, vehicle conversion will have the potential to offer a viable solution for people who are willing to make the transition to electric vehicles but who may encounter affordability barriers in terms of purchasing a new EV. I have asked my officials to keep in touch with industry stakeholders on this matter.