Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
29. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport to outline the proposals and targets for the number of electric EVs and solar vehicles in Ireland by 2030; if there will be sufficient infrastructure in place for these electric vehicles to be charged at sufficient locations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12993/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to Ireland’s ambitious targets under the Climate Action Plan 2023 to have an expected 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.
The Department of Transport provides a generous range of incentives to support drivers’ transition to electric, including:
• a purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
• a home charging scheme
• an apartment charging scheme
• benefit-in-kind tax relief for BEVs
• VRT relief of up to €5,000 for BEVs
• a low rate of annual motor tax.
From a business perspective there are also supports available including:
• a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV
• a fleet assessment grant to help businesses explore the transition to EVs
• a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a zero emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle.
Having an effective and reliable charging network is also an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
In order to achieve Ireland’s EU targets under AFIR, it is expected that there will be 3,200 – 6,210 public chargers required nationally by 2030, depending on the level of power supplied at each. AFIR requirements currently state that there should be 1.3kW of capacity on the national network per BEV and 0.8kW capacity per PHEV.
In 2026, ZEVI will publish and begin implementing a refreshed national strategy that sets out the next phase of Ireland’s EV-charging infrastructure rollout. This updated strategy will build on the progress of recent years under the 2022-25 National EV Infrastructure Charging Strategy and ensure charging infrastructure keeps pace with the rapidly growing level of EV adoption in Ireland.
This strategy is currently being finalised by ZEVI with a refreshed strategy for 2026-2028 to be published for public consultation in the coming month.
