Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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538. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of EV grant funding drawn down, by constituency, in each of the last three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43145/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.

As a breakdown of grant funding drawn down by constituency is not possible, the tables below show the number of grants paid by county and the private grants available for each of the last three years.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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539. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public EV charging facilities available nationwide in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43146/25]

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 2024 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, however 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.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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541. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure equity in access to EV cars, particularly with regards to apartment dwellers, renters or those living in homes without driveways, who cannot easily install home charging facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43148/25]

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.

The Government’s aim is to create an optimum environment to keep up with demand for EV charging and make it possible for anyone who wants an EV to have one. We regularly review EV incentives and grant schemes to ensure that they are delivering value for money and supporting delivery of EV targets.

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.

On 15 July 2025, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment adopted a Strategy Statement on Private Wires. This is a significant reform of the rules on electricity infrastructure. It will unlock private sector investment in electricity infrastructure, particularly renewable generation and storage.

At present only ESB Networks can own a line that brings electricity from a generator to an electricity customer. Following an extensive consultation exercise with industry, the government has decided that in future private investors will be able to build and own such lines including where private lines will be allowed where they are the solution to allow on street charging of electric vehicles.

The Department of Transport will continue to work with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and local authorities to find suitable arrangements to allow the installation of this type of charger.

The Apartment Charger Grant, funded by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) and operated by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), assists residents and owners of apartments and other multi-unit developments install a home charger for their EV.

The grant is designed for bulk installation of chargers at a single location, and supports cabling, infrastructure, labour, and construction costs. Owners' management companies, housing bodies, local authorities, commercial and private landlords can apply.

There is also a 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 provides a pathway for the accelerated delivery of regional and local networks of public EV charging infrastructure at destination and neighbourhood areas, and will be led by local authorities.

Local authorities are ideally suited to accelerate the delivery of charging infrastructure at the local level. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland are engaging with Local Authorities and will provide funding and guidance to them for developing their strategies – these will identify areas without off street charging capabilities and identify solutions which may include off street community chargers, Shared Charging facilities, and/or use of local Rapid Destination Chargers or Hubs.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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542. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to increase EV grants in the next budget to bridge the affordability gap experienced by lower income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43149/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to increasing the uptake of EVs as evidenced in the ambitious targets set in the Climate Action Plan. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure.

There is a suite of incentives in place from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs and for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, including:

• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;
• VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of BEVs;
• The eSPSV grant scheme for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV, including wheelchair accessible vehicles;
• ZEHDV grant scheme – a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a low emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax.

The Department regularly reviews EV incentives and grants to ensure that they are delivering value for money and supporting delivery of EV targets. As specified in the Programme for Government, I have asked officials to examine the existing range of incentives for EV uptake and consider incentives that could increase the uptake of EVs and replace older, polluting vehicles.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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543. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his response to reports that current EV grants disproportionately benefit better off households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43150/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to supporting the transition to zero-emission transport and the ambitious target to have 30% of private car fleet switched to electric by 2030. As detailed in the new programme for Government, my Department is examining the current EV grant system to ensure it remains effective and consistent with a just transition.

Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. It is also important to note that EV purchase costs have reduced in the last year due to the coming on stream of new EV brands and models from manufacturers.

There is a suite of incentives in place from Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs and for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, including:

• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;
• An apartment charger scheme;
• Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
• Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief of up to €5000 for BEVs;
• eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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544. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has conducted a review of the effectiveness of EV grants in increasing EV adoption, and to provide a report on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43151/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to increasing the uptake of EVs as evidenced in the ambitious targets set in the Climate Action Plan. My Department keeps the effectiveness of EV grants under constant review in the context of achieving our CAP targets. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure.

A total of 30,224 new electric cars have been registered this year, bringing the total figure of 179,187 electric vehicles on Irish roads (as of end June 2025).

Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. As part of an upcoming extensive optimisation strategy, reviews will be conducted into the existing grants and policies in EV purchasing, which will be used as a variable in future modelling tools for strategic policy development. My Department continues to engage with colleagues in other jurisdictions with a view to sharing research and learnings, and ultimately to develop cost effective and targeted policy supports.