Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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206. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to have taxi-dedicated electric vehicle charge points at both Connolly Station and Busáras. [10173/23]

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 (EV) charging network over the coming years.

Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles. It is also an essential part of ensuring just and equal access to EVs across Ireland, including in rural areas.

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.

In July last year, 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 and further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.

ZEVI has significant funding available in 2023 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

Last month I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. 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.

The Strategy outlines a need for fast Taxi-Charging Hubs to support the greening of the taxi fleet, which will enable drivers to quickly charge and go. The provision of dedicated EV charging infrastructure for e-car clubs and at taxi ranks, as well as in strategic rural locations, is key. It will support the transition to electric and sustainable mobility in communities with low car ownership or population densities, and where demand for publicly-accessible charge points may be limited. In all instances, decisions about charge point locations and types require a strategic and data-driven approach to ensure that Irish EV charging infrastructure meets future needs.

ZEVI has established a Public-Private Vehicles Stakeholder Group with expertise to support and inform electric vehicle roll out. Representatives from the taxi industry are included on this group and can contribute to the consideration of EV taxi drivers' charging needs.

In addition, the eSPSV Infrastructure Scheme was designed to encourage more taxi drivers to convert to electric vehicles. The project involves installing taxi-dedicated electric vehicle charge points at major transport hubs nationwide. Officials from my Department have engaged with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann on this matter. Since 2020, charge points have been installed in Dublin (Heuston), Cork (Kent) and Limerick (Colbert) train stations as well as at Dublin and Cork airports.

Further funding was made available in 2022 to support the installation of 150 KW charge points at an additional 5 Irish Rail locations which are due to come onstream shortly. In total, my Department has committed €1.6m to this initiative to date.