COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 12, 2025
MOTION NO. 6
MOTION: Councillor C. Brady
That this council calls on the Chief Executive to accelerate the delivery of EV charging infrastructure for all new apartment developments across the county where residents have no access to direct frontage.
REPORT:
The Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, published in June 2022, is a comprehensive report, setting out a coordinated approach to deploy EV charging infrastructure within the four Dublin Local Authorities (LAs), to cater for the estimated 138,000 EV’s owned and operating within the Dublin region by 2030. Approximately 75% of EV’s will be predominately charged at the vehicle owners’ residential driveway. The strategy focuses on identifying the appropriate EV charging infrastructure required to support the remaining 25% of EV owners without access to private driveways, across five key areas.
- 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).
The strategy identifies that there is no single charging solution for EV users and that it’s important to deliver sufficient charge points of different types and locations, to ensure each user can charge in a convenient, energy-efficient, and cost-effective manner. The Department of Transport, through the office of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), has established a dedicated office charged with supporting consumers, the public sector and businesses to make the switch to zero emission vehicles. The Office leads on the delivery of Ireland’s ambitious targets under the Climate Action Plan. Responsibility for the delivery of the infrastructure will depend on charger type, location and target consumer, with work undertaken by the appropriate parties, including residents, owner management companies’, commercial/private landlords, housing bodies, local authorities and private sector.
In relation to the provision of EV charging in public carparks, 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/managed 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) (7-22kw) for areas of shared parking within housing developments that are in the charge of the council.
In the case of apartments and multi-unit developments with shared residents parking, operated by a landlord and or an owner’s management company (OMC), ZEVI, through SEAI, operate the “EV Apartment Charger Grant”. The grant provides financial assistance for the provision of shared EV charging in 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 grant potentially will covering up to 80% of the installation costs with some costs being absorbed by a Charge Point Operator (CPO). The grant process recommends the OMC to partner with an SEAI approved operator who will provide the necessary quotations and technical guidance on the best solution. Once the installation is complete, the operator will be responsible for managing the billing systems and maintenance of the infrastructure. Full details of the grant are available on SEAI website.
For new developments, as part of the statutory planning process, the councils 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.
As per the Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, there are multiple avenues for the successful delivery of the convenient, energy-efficient, and cost-effective EV charging infrastructure. The council will continue to work to identify suitable locations in its ownership for EV charging and accelerate the delivery where power supply is available, and demand requires it. The council is available to assist and advise owner management companies and other community groups, in order to maximise the potential of available grants for the provision of EV charging within the county.