Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the expected timeline for the planned development of a new national EV infrastructure strategy, as proposed in the Programme for Government. [2723/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the 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.

While over 80% of EV charging is expected to happen at home, which will address most users charging needs, there is an absolute need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible.

To date this has been led by private sector investment, and the number of publicly available charge points in Ireland has increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to 2,400 in 2024. In order to achieve Ireland’s EU targets under the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), it is expected that there will be 3,200 – 6,210 public chargers required nationally by 2025, depending on the level of power supplied at each.

The EV Charging infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025 sets out the Government’s ambition regarding the delivery of this network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

Arising from the Strategy, the National Road EV Charging Network Plan (2024) provides a roadmap for the deployment of charging on motorway and primary and secondary roads. The second part of this plan, the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan was published for consultation in May 2024 and provides a pathway for the accelerated delivery of regional and local networks of public EV charging infrastructure in cities, towns and villages across Ireland with the focus on neighbourhood and destination charging. These documents were complemented by the publishing of the Universal Design Guidance for EV Charging Infrastructure (2024) which includes recommendations on the design, placement and information provision of infrastructure.

The existing iteration of the overarching EV Infrastructure Charging Strategy runs until the end of 2025. Work will commence this year on the development of a new national EV Infrastructure Strategy to cover the period 2026 – 2029.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how he plans to substantially increase the number of publicly available EV charging points and reduce the average distance between EV recharging points, including addressing delays in providing grid connections to new EV recharging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2724/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the 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.

While over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home, there is an absolute need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible.

To date this has been led by private sector investment, and the number of publicly available charge points in Ireland has increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to 2,400 in 2024. In order to achieve Ireland’s EU targets under the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), it is expected that there will be 3,200 – 6,210 public chargers required nationally by 2025, depending on the level of power supplied at each.

The EV Charging infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025 sets out the Government’s ambition regarding the delivery of this network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade.

Arising from this strategy, the National Road EV Charging Network Plan, published in May 2024, will see chargers installed every 60km on major roads. In addition, the draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan focuses on neighbourhood and destination charging locations and will be led by Local Authorities in partnership with both public and private sectors.

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

• The first ZEVI TII EV Recharging Infrastructure LDV National Road Grant Scheme launched in early 2024 – which will see 131 new high-powered recharging points for EVs built across 17 recharging pools along major roads. A second round of this scheme followed to provide charging infrastructure in areas where it was not possible to award grants in the initial round.

• Phase 2 of the scheme, launched October 2024, will provide banks of high powered chargers along the primary and secondary national road network.

• A Shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which will install up to 200 fast chargers in sports clubs on the island of Ireland.

• An EU Just Transition Fund supported scheme, which is planned to install 60-80 chargers in the midlands.

• Local Authority pilot schemes, funding the roll out of EV charging in Local Authorities who have already developed local EV network plans, while supporting the development of local EV Network plans in other areas.

In relation to electric vehicle grid connections, Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) continues to work closely with ESB Networks, a key member of the ZEVI Assurance Board and Progress Group. However, issues regarding the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Networks.

EirGrid and ESB Networks are independent of the Department of Transport in the exercise of their respective functions at an operational level. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, has responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, has responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (ERA) and subsequent legislation. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister.

The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, electricity grid connection policy and the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and EirGrid, transmission. Under Section 34 of the ERA, the CRU may give directions to system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, on the terms and conditions of access to the electricity system. Based on the CRU’s policy directions, the system operators issue connection offers.