To ask the Minister for Infrastructure how many electric vehicle charging points will be available by the end of (i) 2022; (ii) 2023; (iii) 2024; and (iv) 2025.

The current electric vehicle public charge point network is owned by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and is operated on a commercial basis. ESB announced in November 2021 that it had been awarded £3.27 million from the Levelling Up Fund to expand and enhance the EV charging network. ESB can be contacted directly regarding its plans for its charge point infrastructure. The market is also open to other commercial operators who would wish to provide charging infrastructure.

I am pleased that my Department has 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 to install a total of 73 EV Rapid charging points across the island of Ireland and the West of Scotland by 31 May 2023. It is expected that 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 the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). A local council consortium, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, submitted a joint application to the Energy Saving Trust which manages the fund on behalf of OZEV on 30 March 2022. Derry City and Strabane District council is best placed to advise about the application. My Department is represented, in an advisory capacity, on the ORCS council consortium.

My Department has also set up an EV Infrastructure Task-Force which brings 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.