Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce measures to facilitate residents of terraced houses with no driveways to charge their electric vehicles at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20632/23]

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.

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.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2023 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

In January, 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. 

A range of new charging infrastructure schemes are being developed which will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging. 

Destination Charging will be a strong priority for ZEVI in 2023. In addition to a general scheme, a number of bespoke schemes are also in advanced stages of development, including:

• A shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which will install up to 200 fast chargers
• An EU Just transition Fund supported scheme, which is planned to install 60-80 chargers

A new Residential Neighbourhood Charging Scheme which will be launched by ZEVI, will provide EV charging for residents without access off street parking. This EV charging will be designed to mimic home charging and will incentivise off-peak charging in a location convenient to the resident’s home. In addition to this we will be working with local authorities to support them creating local charging plans to be rolled out in the coming years

Local Authorities will be key partners with ZEVI in delivering a national EV charging network, and ZEVI has already established strong links with Local Authorities, with representatives from Local Authorities on the ZEVI Assurance Board, as well as three of its EV infrastructure delivery stakeholder groups.

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

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the roll-out of EV charging points projected for the remainder of 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20723/23]

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. In January this year, 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. Building on the strategy, ZEVI is currently working with the TII, the local Authorities, Regional Assembly's and ESB Networks in developing a National EV Charing Infrastructure Plan.  The first part of this plan – the National EV Charging Network Plan [En-Route] will be published in summer.

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.

Destination Charging will be a strong priority for ZEVI in 2023.

In addition to a general scheme, a number of bespoke schemes are also in advanced stages of development, including:

• A shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which is expected to install up to 200 fast chargers
• An EU Just transition Fund supported scheme, which is planned to install 60-80 chargers

A new Residential Neighbourhood Charging Scheme will also be launched by ZEVI to provide EV charging for residents without access off street parking. This EV charging will be designed to mimic home charging and will incentivise off-peak charging in a location convenient to the resident’s home. In addition to this we will be working with local authorities to support them creating local charging plans to be rolled out in the coming years.

In addition to schemes directly launched by ZEVI, there is a strong growth in the provision of private sector charging projects which aim to facilitate charging at all levels, from Destination and residential to ultra-rapid and high-powered charging, such as is required along major routes and for heavy duty vehicles.

With an investment of €10 from the Climate Action Fund and a matching €10M from ESB, ESB ecars are rolling out fast charging hubs and fast charge points across the country. Their program is as follows:

• 50 charging “hubs” throughout Ireland which can charge between 3-8 vehicles simultaneously, 23 of which have been delivered
• Replacing 50 existing standard chargers with fast chargers, 40 of which have been delivered
• Replacement of over 200 other standard to increase reliability of service