Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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199. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an increase in electric vehicles will put a substantial amount of pressure on the national grid in the long-term (details supplied); the possible outcomes if the grid becomes overwhelmed in coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5303/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy, published in January 2023, explicitly acknowledges a current “lack of available grid capacity” as among a number of potential risks. However, every effort is being made to mitigate these risks and to prepare for any problems that may arise. The National EV Charging Network Plan, stakeholder working groups, funding, and investment in grid capacity are all being explored as ways of ensuring that the strategy’s aims are delivered as smoothly as possible. The transmission system operator, EirGrid, and the distribution system operator, ESB Networks, are both involved in this work. EirGrid is responsible for planning the future grid and forecasting future electricity needs. Its planning work already takes into account the future roll out of electric vehicles as set out in the Climate Action Plan.