Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of electric charging points that are now operational in public areas in Cork city and County, broken down by fast chargers and ordinary chargers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49570/22]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his engagement with local authorities regarding the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points in Cork city and County; the level of uptake from local authorities on funding available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for e-car charging points for Cork city and County; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49571/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together.

The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. As you are aware, a draft national EV charging infrastructure strategy, 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 195,000 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 later this year.

Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging and workplace charging.

€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.

In terms of progress ESB eCars have:

One hub of 4 High-Powered Chargers with 8 charging bays constructed, with 2 in progress. There is an overall target of 6 sites

One hub consisting of 2 High-Powered Chargers with 4 charging bays completed with a further 10 currently in design/construction.

16 hubs of 1 High-Powered Charger and 1 Fast Charger with 3 charging bays completed with a further 9 currently in design/construction.

Completed the upgrade of 40 Standard 22kW chargers to DC Fast 50kW chargers

Completed the replacement of 250 Standard 22kW AC chargers.

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

On 21st July I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.

In terms of existing supports for public charging, the Public Charge Point Scheme, which is administered by the SEAI, provides local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of the scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles, who do not have access to a private parking space, but instead rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes to charge their EVs. It should be noted that this scheme facilitates the installation of standard charge points.

My Department has committed to reviewing the Scheme to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.

Thirteen local authorities have been in touch with SEAI in relation to the Public Points Scheme including Cork County Council. However no application has been submitted to date. Cork City Council have not contacted the SEAI in relation to this scheme.

ZEVI is currently accepting pilot project proposals from interested Local Authorities to trial EV charging infrastructure installations and to assist local authorities to evaluate future charging strategy.

My Department is also developing a new scheme which will support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as visitor centres and parks. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.

Public charge points in Ireland and provided by a number of chargepoint operators on a commercial basis. ESB eCars is one of these operators and has a significant presence nationwide. In light of ESB eCars role in providing publicly accessible charge points, I have forwarded your question for direct response. Please contact my office if no reply is received within 10 working days.