Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of EV charging spaces available at all LUAS and DART stations including in associated park and ride facilities, by location; the provider in each instance of the charging infrastructure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17917/25]

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 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.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerates Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2025 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.

The number of publicly accessible charge points in Ireland increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to approximately 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 Department of Transport does not at present maintain counts of available publicly accessible EV charging stations in specific regions, but ZEVI are developing a Data Strategy which, when implemented, will give the Department improved visibility on this.

The system will enable the collection of data from charge-points in near real time and provide it on an Open Data basis. The obligation on charge-point operators and owners to share this data is legislated for in the EU Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation.

With regard to individual sites at or near rail and light rail stations, these are generally managed on an individual basis and any decisions regarding EV charging installation at a given location remains a matter for the owner or operator of that site.

I have referred this question to the National Transport Authority for direct reply regarding any existing sites.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding any initiative being worked on by his Department that seeks to increase the provision of EV charging infrastructure, particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17932/25]

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.

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.

The EV Home Charger Grant, funded by ZEVI and administered by SEAI provides a grant up to the value of €300 towards the purchase and installation of a home charger unit, and open to homeowners to apply for a grant, whether they own an electric vehicle or not.

However, there is an absolute need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible.

The draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan focuses on destination and neighbourhood charging. The final plan, due to be published soon, will be led by Local Authorities in partnership with both public and private sectors and will address EV charging needs in rural areas.

A range of new charging infrastructure schemes are also 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.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the merits of introducing an app that would allow users access to all EV charging infrastructure, regardless of the supplier; if any research is ongoing within his Department into how this could be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17937/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy is a pathway for the delivery of EV charge point infrastructure to support Ireland’s Climate Action Plan target to have an expected 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.

The Strategy addresses EV infrastructure standards required to meet user needs as mandated through European regulations, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), and Irish legislation and regulations. These include interoperability; ease of payment; reliability; and accessibility standards and safety.

Under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), all Charge Point Operators (CPOs) have had to provide ad-hoc payment options on all installed new infrastructure since April 2024. All new charging infrastructure funded either privately or by the government will have to conform with this regulation. This ad-hoc payment capability will negate the requirement for users to hold an account with a CPO or access an app to pay for charging.

Additionally, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is developing a Data Strategy which will show how data will be shared with the public to help enhance the EV charging experience to ensure drivers have more information so that they know the best charging points to go to for their cars, and their budget.

The data to be made available will help already existing app service operators to tell EV owners whether the charging point is compatible with their car, the charging point’s power capacity, price, and whether it’s operational or in use at the time.

The data will be made available to information service providers through an open Application Programming Interface.

These mobile app developers and information services developers will then provide the means to access that data through apps, and to visualise it, use it and share it.