Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of EV charging points owned by the ESB in each quarter of 2020, 2021 and 2022. [1646/23]

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 charging network over the coming years. A national charging infrastructure strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the period out to 2025 will be published on 19th January.

The 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. A draft strategy was published for consultation in March 2021. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation were considered in the development of the final Strategy.

The Government’s EV target is a critical solution to reducing our transport emissions and is a key part of the strategy which also includes measures to reduce car journeys, through improved public and active transport networks.

Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well assists in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.

In July 2022 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.

The Department of Transport does not hold corporate governance responsibility for ESB and does not hold the information requested so I have referred your question to ESB eCars for direct response within 10 days.