Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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223. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a timeline for his Department and the Local Government Management Agency to publish plans to deliver EV charging solutions to persons living in housing without a driveway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53100/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 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 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.

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. A suite of new grants and initiatives have been launched including the Apartment Charging Grant. This grant is for dwellings which do not have access to a driveway such as apartments, duplexes and mixed developments. Management companies can now apply for up to 80% funding for infrastructure costs when installing an EV charging system in multi unit residences.

ZEVI is also in the process of developing new residential charging grant which will focus on providing neighbourhood and residential charging solutions, targeting areas where off-street charging is either limited or not possible.

The launch of this scheme is planned to take place in 2023.

Additionally, €10 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund to support ESB investment in the publicly accessible 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.

Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.