Electric car chargers to be rolled out at sports clubs in coming weeks

Electric car charging points at sports clubs are set to be rolled out in the coming weeks, it has been confirmed. 

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said "a whole range of measures" will be rolled out as part of the national strategy for electric vehicle charging infrastructure being launched on Thursday.

A total of €100m will be invested in a range of public charging infrastructure over the next three years, under the plan

The legally binding Climate Action Plan has a target for 30% of Ireland's total passenger car fleet and 100% of new car registrations to be electric by 2030.

Plans include car chargers being available every 60km on the motorway network.

There are currently 1,700 charging points in place, as well as those provided by private operators.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Thursday, the minister said they will start by putting charging infrastructure into sports clubs in the coming weeks and then rolling it out to neighbourhood settings.

"We will start the week after next with sports clubs around the country as it isn't just about the motorways," he said.

"We also need what is called destination charging and also neighbourhood charging, so in those houses where people can't charge outside their driveway, we are working with local authorities to start using lamp posts and other mechanisms," Minister Ryan added

The Shared Island Sports Club grant will provide funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers in communities nationwide through their local sports clubs, subject to certain eligibility criteria.

This grant, with funding provided via the government's Shared Island Fund, will operate on an all-island basis and provide grant funding via National Sports Governing Bodies to eligible sports clubs and centres to help defray the cost of installing publicly accessible EV charge points.