Thousands of households can’t get EV chargers because of outdated planning rules – Geoghegan

Household vehicle (EV) chargers should exempt from planning permission if Ireland is serious about meeting its EV targets, a Fine Gael TD has said.

James Geoghegan, Fine Gael’s spokesperson for Dublin said: “It makes no sense that hundreds of thousands of households are blocked from installing a home charger because of outdated planning rules. If we’re serious about hitting our EV targets, this simple change must be made.

“Ireland’s Climate Action Plan sets a target of 845,000 private EVs by 2030. Yet, as of February this year, there were just 118,000 EVs on the road.

“A major obstacle in boosting EV sales is the lack of charging options, particularly in cities where terraced houses and apartments dominate.

“In Dublin alone, more than 480,000 households live in terraced houses or apartments – and the vast majority are effectively excluded from home charging. Four hundred public chargers in Dublin simply won’t cut it,” Geoghegan said.

According to the SEAI, 80% of EV charging happens at home, but under current planning rules, many urban households cannot install their own charger.

In his submission to the Government’s consultation on Exempted Development Regulations, Deputy Geoghegan highlighted charging solutions that could be rolled out in Ireland — including charging arms and under-the-kerb charging systems already in use abroad.

He explained: “If a complaint is made, councils are obliged to issue enforcement notices against charging arms. That makes no sense. These solutions should be exempt from planning to give people real options.”

Deputy Geoghegan said the Minister for Transport should apply the same flexibility and outside the box thinking on the climate emergency similar to what has been proposed in housing.

“Minister for State for Planning John Cummins has shown flexibility by introducing regulations to enable people to build detached modular homes. The climate emergency is just as urgent, and the Minister for Transport should take the same approach when it comes to EV charging.

“Exempting chargers from planning is simple, fair, and would make a real difference for households ready to make the switch.”