To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Task-Force, including (i) meeting regularity; (ii) stakeholders included; (iii) aims and objectives; and (iv) achievements to date.

I have established an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Task-Force bringing together representatives from government, consumers, energy providers, industry, and EV drivers to consider our EV Infrastructure requirements and to help set out a clear action plan by autumn 2022 to deliver a fit for purpose, modern EV charging network. The Task Force is a sub group of the Transport Working Group, which is taking forward the transport elements of the Executive’s Energy Strategy.

In developing its Action Plan the Task-Force will consider EV Infrastructure in the context of the overarching principles of prioritising active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) and public transport towards decarbonising our transport system. Two meetings of the Task-Force have been held to date. Members have agreed a Terms of Reference for the Task-Force and have committed to meeting regularly to discuss and produce an action plan by autumn 2022 and work is ongoing to meet this aim.

Stakeholders come from a range of organisations that cover many areas of transport, government, and public interest. They are my Department, Department for the Economy, ESB, NIE Networks, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, EVANI, the Utility Regulator, Derry City and Strabane District Council, and Confederation of British Industry (Northern Ireland).

The current electric vehicle public charge point network is owned by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and is operated by it on a commercial basis. It is responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of the network. There are currently 320 22kWh (Fast) public charge points at 160 locations and a further 17 50kWh DC (Rapid) public charge points in Northern Ireland. ESB can be contacted directly, in respect of its charge point network, at ecars@esb.ie or enquiries can be sent directly to ESB, Two Gateway, East Wall Road, DUBLIN 3, D03 A995. Whilst the market is open to other commercial operators who would wish to provide charging infrastructure, to date, ESB is the only public network provider in the North.

I am also taking a number of actions to enhance our public charge point infrastructure and these are set out below.

I have met with ESB to encourage it to repair non-functioning charge points. ESB completed its replacement programme in Nov 2021 to replace 30 AC Fast charge posts (60 charge points) and to upgrade a number of faulty charge points with more modern operational charge points, it has received very positive feedback. It has also more recently replaced a number of Rapid chargers. I have encouraged ESB to introduce charging on its public network as soon as possible.

ESB announced it has been awarded £3.27 million from the Levelling Up Fund to expand and enhance the EV charging network which will transform the public charging experience for current and future EV drivers in the North. The Levelling Up Fund investment, further supported by ESB’s own capital investment, will replace all existing Fast (22kW) and Rapid (50kW) EV chargers across the North. The legacy infrastructure will be replaced with the fastest, most reliable and advanced technology available. This project will double the existing number of Rapid chargers and will also see the introduction of high power (200kW) charging for the first time in the North through the delivery of five high power charging (200kW) hubs in strategic locations. These high-power charging hubs can charge multiple vehicles simultaneously and can provide an EV with 100km of range in as little as six minutes. ESB made a presentation about its charge point network at a recent meeting of the ORCS council consortium.

I fully recognise the importance of having modern, reliable public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in providing confidence for users of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) and in respect of the connectivity improvements this would bring across the North. I have also introduced changes to the planning system, which came into operation on 21 December 2020 and have been liaising with British Government Ministers in respect of future funding for our charge point network.

The British Government has made £20 million in grant funding available to local authorities/ councils in GB-NI during 2021-22 to provide charge points for residents without off-street parking. I have written to councils advising them that I have made available match-funding of circa £350k, subject to public expenditure processes, from within my Department’s Blue Green Fund to assist local councils making an application to the On-street Residential Charge Point Scheme (ORCS). Accessing the funding from the Blue Green Fund is dependent on our councils submitting a successful ORCS application.

I am encouraging councils to avail of the ORCS funding which provides a grant for 75% of the capital costs of procuring and installing charge points and associated dedicated parking bays. This funding cannot be accessed by my Department, it is only available to local councils and it is for them to apply individually or collectively. Therefore, should a council make a successful application to ORCS for 75% funding, the 25% match from my Blue Green Fund will mean that the capital costs are fully covered. My Department is also represented, in an advisory capacity, on an ORCS council consortium which is led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, set up to look at applying for ORCS funding. My officials will continue to make themselves available to local councils to provide support, advice and guidance.

My Department has been leading on the Transport Working Group (TWG), set up to inform the transport elements of the Executive’s Energy Strategy. The Energy Strategy has recently been published and includes actions that need to be taken forward if we are to achieve a cleaner, greener transport system. The out workings of the TWG will include consideration of future requirements for publicly available electric vehicle charge points in the North. I am keen to work within the framework of the Energy Strategy to ensure a co-ordinated and coherent approach which is focused on assessing and meeting future needs for charging infrastructure in this fast-changing policy area.

I am pleased to have been able to support the FASTER Project, funded through the INTERREG VA Territorial Co-operation Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project has received funding through the programme to install a total of 73 EV Rapid charging points across the island of Ireland and the West of Scotland by 31 May 2023. My Department will be contributing €513,945 (£455,371) of Match Funding towards the FASTER project. The responsibility for the implementation of the project rests with SEUPB and it has agreed a delivery schedule with the project partners, led by the East Border Region Group Limited. I understand the locations for the charge points has not as yet been finalised, however, it is expected between 20-30 of these will be located in the North.

Funding opportunities for the installation of charge point infrastructure in GB-NI are provided by OZEV. I have met with British Government ministers to discuss the move to electric vehicles, the approach to installing charge point infrastructure and future funding including development opportunities for our charge point network. I have been assured that OZEV will continue to highlight opportunities for charge point operators in GB to consider entering the market here in the North.

I remain committed to working in partnership with Executive colleagues and others across our islands to help deliver a change in the way we travel that also helps us to tackle the climate crisis.