Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to encourage the colocation of electric vehicle charging points with vehicle service stations that provide petrol, diesel, biofuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4765/25]

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.

A significant challenge to EV uptake by consumers is perceptions around availability and suitability of charging infrastructure. While over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home and will address most users charging needs, there is a need for a seamless public charging network to 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 the end of this year, depending on the level of power supplied at each.

Government therefore needs to act to deliver a wider range of public charging infrastructure, as well as to provide clear information to non-EV users about the practicality of EV use and the importance of home charging for everyday needs.

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 will see chargers installed every 60km on major roads. The Plan sets out ambitious targets for the level and coverage needed for En-Route charging on our national roads network. We are already seeing significant increased capacity of EV charging on our national roads, and this plan provides additional reassurance and certainty for EV drivers and those thinking of making the switch to EVs that they will be able to find high powered, fast and convenient EV charge-points where and when they need them.

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:

• A motorway infrastructure scheme, administered by TII - in July 2024, it was announced 131 new high-powered recharging points for electric vehicles to be built across 17 recharging pools along major roads.

• A second high powered scheme, to be administered by TII, to 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.

Vehicle Service Stations and provide other fuels are eligible to apply for grant aid funding under all TII enroute grant schemes, and will be eligible for funding for some Local Authority schemes.