Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his engagement with Cork County Council in progressing EV charging points for housing estates and apartments without parking spaces in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41416/24]

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.

Underpinning this commitment are a number of policies, beginning at a high level with the National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy and then supplemented by the National Road EV Charging Network Plan.

The second phase of the Network Plan is the Local and Regional Network plan which was published for consultation earlier this year and which describes the pathways and actions to be taken by Local Authorities in meeting the state's role in facilitating the provision of charging which meets the needs of all users.

Officials from my Department have been undertaking active and continuing engagement with Cork County Council as part of region 6 under the Local and Regional Plan and are working with colleagues in Kerry County Council, as well as with other regions, to assess their own charging needs and address the various charging users in the region.

Cork County Council are currently in the process of procuring expert supports to develop their bespoke EV Infrastructure Strategy for their Region. The local strategy will identify the Infrastructure needed at Destination and neighbourhood locations (without off-street parking) to meet Climate Action Plan targets as well as specific EV user charging needs.

Cork County Council will then develop implementation plans to deliver on this infrastructure requirement, which will include a mix of High power DC charging (50 to 150KW ) and lower power AC Charging (7 to 22KW) to meet neighbourhood off peak charging needs and provide a suitable charging solution for those without access to private or off-street charging solutions.

ZEVI is providing support to LAs through funding for Strategy and implementation and also resourcing Local Authority staff to manage the delivery of this infrastructure.

ZEVI will provide up €7m in 2025 to assist Local Authorities in developing and delivering EV charging networks, as well as significant investment in the motorway and national primary road EV charging networks, administered by TII. ZEVI has a number of applications from local authorities for pilot EV charging proposals, and is very happy to consider any application from Cork County,

Finally, I would add that ZEVI already offer a number of solutions for home and apartment charging, including a scheme administered by SEAI where apartment management companies can receive grant support to provide chargers on their site.