COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
MOTION NO.7
MOTION: Councillor C. Brady
That this committee calls on the Chief Executive to accelerate the delivery of EV charging infrastructure for apartments and multi-dwelling units, e.g. in the new developments across the LEA where residents have no access to direct frontage to include identifying and implementing solutions to facilitate infrastructure deployment in public car parks and shared parking facilities within developments.
REPORT:
The Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy is a comprehensive report, setting out a coordinated 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 Charge Point 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 developments 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 owner 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 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 additional 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 the charge of the council and not subject to the management of an owners’ management company.
In relation to this motion, as part of the statutory planning process, standard planning conditions for parking associated with apartments and multi-dwellings unit requires a minimum of 20% of the car parking spaces to be provided with electrical connection points, to allow for functional electric vehicle charging on occupation of the development. The remaining car parking spaces must be fitted with ducting for electric connection points to allow for future fit out of EV charging points. The owners’ management company should engage with SEAI and approved EV Charge Point Operator for the continued operation and possible future expansion of the network.
For apartments and multi-dwellings units that were constructed priori to the issuing of current standard planning conditions associated with the provision of EV Charging, the council recommends representatives of the owners’ management company to engage with SEAI directly, to explore the most suitable option to them in relation for the future provision EV charging infrastructure and its operation. The council is available to provide further advice if required.