To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what plans she has to meet the 2014 target of 500 electric vehicle charging points.

There are currently 320 22kWh (fast) charge points at 160 locations and a further 17 50kWh DC rapid charge points in Northern Ireland, which are owned, operated and maintained by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). In addition, 95 7kWh charge points (54 charge posts) were installed by public sector organisations including health trusts, councils, government departments, who availed of grant funding from the UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles in 2014. Whilst these charge points were primarily for use by fleet and staff owned vehicles, a number of these organisations agreed that their charge points, where accessible, could be used by the general public when visiting their sites or availing of their facilities. Charge point owners made 40 charge points (23 charge posts) available for use by the general public.

My Department is not aware of an explicit target of 500 charge points set in 2014. However, I fully recognise the importance of having modern, reliable public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in providing confidence for users of ultra-low emission vehicles and in respect of the connectivity improvements this would bring. I am committed to seeing this infrastructure increased as part of my Department’s climate change action and I have met with the DAERA Minister to begin working collaboratively to achieve this. My Department will continue to closely monitor funding opportunities for the installation of additional charge point infrastructure and will work with commercial providers to ensure that the installation of any additional charge point infrastructure remains fit for purpose commensurate with growth.