1.1.8 Shared Island

1.1.8 Shared Island

As part of the Shared Island initiative, and supported through the Shared Island Fund, the Government will work through all-island partnerships to explore and implement the provision of targeted EV charging infrastructure. This will benefit communities and increase access to EVs across the island of Ireland, with cobenefits across other sectors such as tourism and heritage.

As part of its Climate Action Mandate, a public body will be required to procure only zeroemission vehicles from the end of 2022. This will enable Ireland to go beyond the requirements of the Clean Vehicles Directive and act as an international leader in this area. Public sector procurement contracts for delivery and haulage should specify zero emissions vehicles where possible.

The Government will also work to promote the parallel development of aligned standards and the use of interoperable technologies and digital systems on the island. This will help to capture and exploit benefits arising from expected renewable energy alignment on both sides of the border. In border regions and along major transport corridors, it will also deliver efficiencies in meeting the requirement for EV charge points.

At local level, local authorities will also need to prepare individual Climate Action Plans (to be in place by March 2024) as part of the

21 https://www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/public-sector/public-sector-energy-programme/obligations-and-targets/

Figure from page 20

22 https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/381/made/en/pdf

23 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 (irishstatutebook.ie) amendment 16

CHAPTER

2

Fundamental

Principles

This strategy is based on a set of fundamental principles that underpin the rollout of EV charging infrastructure over the coming decade. These principles exist against the backdrop of climate change, the urgent need to decarbonise the Irish transport system, and the opportunity to maximise the benefits of the electric mobility transition for all citizens. They aim to make EV charging possible for everyone, regardless of income, age, health, or location.

infrastructure is undertaken in a way that considers the wider sustainable-transport system. The Government’s new Sustainable Mobility Policy will set out a roadmap for the transition to sustainable transport systems and technologies in the coming decade.