Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the roll-out of the EV charger infrastructure nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9441/25]

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, 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.

The National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy outlines the need for a National EV Charging Network Plan to define the requirements for publicly accessible charging. The objective is to be ahead of demand and deliver on the AFIR requirements and install EV Infrastructure that is capable of meeting user needs.

The first element of the National EV Charging Network Plan – the National Road EV Charging Network Plan published in May 2024 – will see large banks of high powered chargers installed every 60km on motorways, with significant provision of high powered chargers also on national primary and secondary 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.

The second element, the draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan, which focuses on destination and neighbourhood charging, was published for public consultation in May 2024. The final plan is to be published in Q1 2025 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.
• To address a particular challenge of home-charging access a Shared Charging Pilot Scheme was also recently launched. This innovative, peer-to-peer programme enables homeowners to rent their EV chargers to others through a booking platform, offering cost-effective charging options for EV owners who don’t have private off-street parking. The pilot will be supported by ZEVI and will be rolled out in urban, suburban and rural areas.