AQW 13736/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 24/06/2024
Answered On Date: 11/07/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for an update on his facilitation to install more electric vehicle charge points; and (ii) to detail the stakeholders he has, and will, engage with in relation to this issue.
Answer:
The provision and operation of publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charge points is a commercially led operation. Responsibility for the maintenance and installation of those charge points rests solely with the charge point operators (CPOs). In this commercially led market, my officials continue to engage with EV owners and provide advice to CPOs on operational matters such as procedural arrangements for planning and installation requirements. Local Councils have been able to avail of funding for the installation of charge points under the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) ‘On Street Residential Charge Point Scheme’ (ORCS), which my Department has match funded. Derry City and Strabane District Council made an application under this scheme in 2021-22, on behalf of nine Local Councils and has recently published its ORCS tender in the eTendersNI portal for charge point operators to provide 127 charge points across those Council areas. Individual Councils are best placed to advise on the number of additional charge points this will provide in their area. My Department established an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Task-Force in December 2021 to consider the EV Infrastructure requirements in the north and to help set out a clear action plan to deliver a fit for purpose, modern EV charging network. The Task-Force aims to meet quarterly, is chaired by the Department for Infrastructure, and includes representatives from the following bodies or organisations: Confederation of British Industry Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Department for the Economy Derry City and Strabane District Council (lead of local council consortium) Electric Vehicle Association Northern Ireland Electricity Supply Board NIE Networks Utility Regulator Latest statistics show there are 564 publicly available EV charge points in the North. This represents a growth of 45% in the total number of available EV charge points since April 2023. Individual charge point operators are best placed to advise you of their plans for future charge point installations.
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