Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, Deputy John Brady, has called on the government to urgently increase investment in public electric vehicle charging infrastructure to match the rapid growth in electric and hybrid car sales.
Figures released to Deputy Brady by the Department of Transport show that as of September 2022 there were 1,700 publicly accessible charging points, rising to just 2,400 in 2024, an increase of only 700 in two years.
“In the same period, the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles has exploded,” Deputy Brady said. “In 2020, there were just over 26,000 such vehicles on the roads. Today, there are 179,187, a staggering increase of over 584 percent. Yet the charging network has grown by only a fraction of that pace.”
Deputy Brady highlighted that the government has made a concerted effort to push the sale of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, with the Minister for Transport confirming that his department aims for 30 percent of vehicles to be electric or hybrid by 2030.
“While the target is ambitious, the reality is that for many ordinary people, owning an electric vehicle is simply not affordable,” he said. “There are no grants available for the purchase of second-hand electric vehicles, which are often the only viable option for ordinary people. The cost of a new electric vehicle is far beyond the reach of many families, especially at a time when the cost of living is soaring. Without tackling affordability, the government’s targets will remain out of reach for large sections of the public.”
“Despite this, the infrastructure is not even there to support those who can afford to make the switch,” Deputy Brady continued. “For the public to have confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles, they must know they can reliably charge their car not just at home, but on any journey they make. At present, too many people are put off by the lack of charging points, the queues, and the uncertainty about whether a charger will even be operational when they arrive.”
Deputy Brady stressed that the success of Ireland’s climate and transport goals will depend on matching sales targets with real investment in infrastructure.
“If we want people to take the leap to electric, the charging network must expand at a scale and pace that matches the growth in vehicles. That means proper funding, strategic planning, and delivery, not vague promises and slow rollouts. Otherwise, the government risks undermining its own targets and leaving drivers stranded.”