Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
189. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding initiatives being worked on by his Department that seek to increase the provision of EV charging infrastructure, particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65284/25]
View answerRural motorists are often in an advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland which are suitable for home EV charging.
Home charging means lower running costs and many EVs are now capable of doing over 400km on a single charge, which will meet most people’s daily driving needs.
TII are leading on the delivery of charging infrastructure along our motorways and national primary and secondary routes and we have launched grant aid programmes for the delivery of significant high powered charging infrastructure on these roads, to ensure that EV drivers have reliable access to charging points across the country.
The Shared Island Sports club charging scheme will provide fast and high quality recharging points in up to 200 sports clubs across the island.
Also of significant relevance to rural motorists is the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. This plan describes how Local Authorities will facilitate the provision of local charging networks.
Officials from my Department have been engaging actively with Local Authorities to develop their own regional charging plans to meet the various needs of users at the local level, whether urban or rural.
Work has commenced on a new EV Infrastructure Strategy, covering the period 2026-2028. A key consideration in that will be addressing the specific EV challenges for rural communities.
