COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
MOTION NO.8
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole
Cathaoirleach's Business
That the committee request the Chief Executive to consider installing EV charging points at the permeability gap in The Paddocks as part of SDCC's EV charging pilot scheme. This location could facilitate multiple vehicle charging while also promoting consistent activity in an area that has previously been a trouble spot.
REPORT:
Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy is a comprehensive report, setting out a co-ordinated approach to deploy EV charging infrastructure in the four Dublin region Local Authorities (LAs), to support the transition to Electric Vehicles. It takes into account national targets for EV role out. By 2030, it is estimated approximately 138,000 EV’s will be owned and operating within the Dublin region, of which, approximately 75% of EV’s will be predominately charged at the vehicle owners’ residential driveway. The strategy focuses ensuring appropriate EV charging infrastructure is available for the remaining 25% of EV owners, that will not have access to driveway charging.
The strategy, identifies 5 key methods for residents of the Dublin region to charge their EV’s, as set out below.
- Home charging – vehicle charged at the owners’ driveway/garage/shared carpark, typically overnight, with slow chargers (3-7kw).
- Neighbourhood charging – vehicle charged near owners’ home who do not have off street parking, typically overnight, with slow to fast charging (7-22kw).
- Residential charging hub – vehicle charged in centralised hubs close to home, can cater for car sharing and taxi’s, 24 hour use, with rapid to ultra rapid charging (50-150kw).
- Destination charging – vehicles charged at the end of a journey, typically public amenities such as shops, parks and community buildings, operated during the amenity opening times, with slow to rapid charging (3-50kw).
- En-route charging – vehicles charged along major routes/main roads, typically located in service stations, with fast turnaround rapid and ultra rapid charging ( 50-350kw).
In the case of Neighbourhood Charging, Residential Charging Hub and Destination Charging, the Local Authority has a role in the delivery of the necessary infrastructure where the lands are in its ownership. Delivery will be carried out through the engagement of EV charging Operators supported with the assistance of central government funding through the Department of Transport and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI).
In the case of apartments and multi-unit development with shared parking operated by a landlord and or an owner’s management company, SEAI operate the “EV Apartment Charger Grant”. The purpose of the grant is to provide charging in shared communal areas whilst ensuring compliance with the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) 1999. Specific to EV charging and shared parking, the Act prevents individual homeowners installing an electrical supply for EV Charging outside the curtilage of their property. The SEAI grant addresses this restriction and provides for a mechanism for the installation of a communal network of chargers in the common areas of apartments and multi-unit development, by providing assistance towards the costs for cabling, necessary infrastructure, EV chargers, labour and construction. The network once installed is managed by the management company or a designated charge point operator. In the case of an owner management company, the “EV Apartment Charger Grant” can cover up to 80% of the installation costs. Full details of the grant are available on SEAI website.
The four DLA’s, supported by ZEVI, are working together to actively deliver the objectives of the Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy. In 2024, procurement was completed for a 10-year concession framework agreement, for the appointment of ePower (EV Charge Point Operator) for the design, installation and operation of destination charge points across the county of Dublin. An initial 50 locations identified, of which 14 located within SDCC administrative area, will see EV Fast Chargers (typically 25kw) installed across the Dublin region in 2025. The sites are predominately in council owned parking areas, typically parks, libraries, council offices, leisure centres and neighbourhood district centres, allowing users of the facilities and local residents access to convenient fast charging. The council will continue to expand the EV charging network in line with the strategy and are identifying sites and completing surveys to ensure the appropriate level of infrastructure is in place. Further procurement competitions are planned to allow for the appointment of Neighbourhood EV charge point operator(s) for areas of shared parking within housing developments that are is in charge of the council and not subject to the management of an owners’ management company.
This Council would also like to draw the attention to “Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme” administered by pobal on behalf of ZEVI, as an additional option to addressing the need for convenient EV Charging option to local residents. The scheme provides funding to eligible sports clubs to cover the costs of installing EV charge points though the engagement of an EV charge point operator. The condition of the funding ensures the EV chargers are available for use by the community in local club facilitate, with access during reasonable hours (a minimum of 10 hours per day, for 5 days per week, on an all-year-round basis (subject to normal public holidays). Details of the scheme can be found on www.pobal.ie. (Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme - Pobal)
In relation to the motion for the provision of EV Charging infrastructure in The Paddocks, the estate is not in charge of the council and the communal parking areas are under the management of the owner’s management company. As such the council does not have ownership of the area in question it is not in a position to advance a pilot scheme for the area. However, the proposed scheme is likely to fall under the eligibility of the SEAI “EV Apartment Charger Grant” scheme. The council recommends representatives of the owners’ management company to engage with SEAI directly to advance the scheme. The council is available to provide further advice if required.