Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2025
71. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the total funding in 2025 and to be provided in 2026, for roll-out of a nationwide EV charging network; and the progress in meeting EU targets for public EV charge points. [55596/25]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years and reaching climate targets. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Over €100m was allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles, which included €40.5m towards infrastructure delivery. Regarding 2026 funding, allocations have yet to be finalised. As of end September 2025, there are over 196,000 electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) on Irish roads. This exceeds the 2025 target of 195,000 EVs on the road by end of 2025.
The number of publicly available charge points in Ireland increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to 2,400 in 2024.
The National EV Charging Network Plan outlines 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.
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 July 2024, the locations of 17 new high-powered recharging pools for electric vehicles were announced along the National Road Network.
Phase 2 of the ZEVI EV Recharging Infrastructure LDV National Road Grant Scheme programme, focuses on 1200km+ of national single carriageway roads. A total of 175 high-powered recharging points will be built across 53 recharging pools, providing an additional 20,000 kilowatts (20 Megawatts) of recharging capacity.
A third grant scheme was launched focusing on approximately 3,000km of the remaining primary and secondary roads on the National Road Network outside of the TEN-T Network. It will deliver 192 new fast recharging points, with an average capacity of typically 250kW, at 90 locations along the national primary and secondary road network.
The Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan, which focuses on destination and neighbourhood charging, was published in April this year. The plan will be led by Local Authorities in partnership with both public and private sectors.
A range of new charging infrastructure schemes are also being developed, including:
• A Shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which will install up to 200 fast chargers in sports clubs on the island of Ireland.
• 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.
