Joe O’Brien TD Encourages Fingal Sports Clubs to Apply for New Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme

31st January, 2023

The new €15 million scheme, resourced through the Government’s Shared Island Fund, will support the roll-out of publicly accessible, fast-charging for sports clubs and communities across the island of Ireland, in line with the recently launched National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy.

Encouraging local sport groups to apply to the scheme, Joe O’Brien TD said:

“This new scheme is one example of how the Government is working in practical ways with all communities on the island, for a sustainable, shared future. The scheme will provide fast charging for sports clubs and communities across the island of Ireland and make switching to and using an EV easier for everyone.

“I know many of our local sports clubs in Fingal would benefit from having an EV charging facility both for their own members and visiting teams, so I would strongly encourage them to log onto the Pobal website soon to look at the scheme details, and then to contact their National Governing Bodies about the scheme.

“So many of us are frequent visitors to our local sports clubs, whether that’s dropping off our children for training or games, helping out, or playing sports ourselves. It makes perfect sense then that we are starting our destination EV charging plans by providing these grants for sports clubs.”

Developed in partnership with Sports Ireland and Sports Governing Bodies across the island, and administered by Pobal, the scheme will allow sports clubs North and South, to apply to install a fast EV charge point at their grounds providing charging for club members as well as the local community.

Minister Eamon Ryan said:

“Ireland is in a strong position to move to transport electrification. Most of our journeys are short and most of our charging is done at home, but it is important to make sure that we also have a strong public charging network in place for those without access to home charging, or for anyone who needs to top-up their charge when out and about.”

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said:

“It makes sense to work collaboratively on climate action, North and South, to achieve together a carbon neutral future. This scheme will support clubs and communities in becoming more sustainable and reinforce the message that by working together we can move away from carbon intensive transport and energy.

Applications will be gathered and assessed by Pobal, who will provide guidance on the scheme generally and who will offer direct support to applicants.

This is the first destination scheme launched as part of the Government’s EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy and will be followed by destination schemes for commercial and public sector locations, as well as by a neighbourhood charging scheme which will support local authorities to provide charging for areas where home charging is not possible.

For further information on how to apply, visit: www.pobal.ie/programmes/zevischemes/