Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether planning guidelines will be updated to allow the installation of private chargers, for an on-street or public parking space, for electric vehicles; if he intends to introduce a programme to allow drivers to access public charging in their area at a rate similar to domestic electricity prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44854/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Climate Action Plan target is for 30% of all private cars to be electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) is a dedicated Office in the Department of Transport which, amongst other things, is working to ensure that the necessary public and private vehicle charging infrastructure is made available to as many as possible. A challenge has arisen in this work in the area of providing low-cost charging solutions for those without access to off-street parking, which could potentially include the running of electricity lines in public or shared spaces to enable charging.

In July 2025, the government adopted a Strategy Statement on Private Wires. This is a significant reform of the rules on electricity infrastructure and is intended to facilitate the provision of low-cost charging solutions for EVs. 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 in 2023, the government has decided that in future, private entities will be enabled to own and operate electricity lines for specific purposes, including facilitating on-street electric vehicle charging. This will be a significant and positive step for EV consumers and is intended to provide a framework whereby technical solutions can be implemented which will allow EV drivers, currently without access to home charging, to do so and to avail of cheaper domestic electricity tariffs – particularly when charging overnight.

Primary legislation with supporting documentation to define standards and processes will be brought to Government by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) in the Autumn.

ZEVI fully supports this DCEE led initiative and is working with all stakeholders to progress it.