Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, has launched a public consultation on the development of an updated National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure in Transport.

This consultation comes after the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), which came into full application across all EU Member States from 13 April 2024. The Consultation is to be informed by an Issues Paper, prepared by the Department of Transport, which sets out of a range of issues for consideration and prompts a series of targeted questions.

The updated Regulation replaces the former Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive 2014/94/EU, setting forth several compulsory minimum targets and duties for operators. Its aim is to guarantee the establishment of an adequate and interoperable network for recharging and refuelling alternative fuels consistently across all EU Member States.

The Regulation sets a number of challenging targets and timeframes for the deployment of such infrastructure across the main transport corridors in each Member State (i.e. the Trans-European Network-Transport network (TEN-T)), including but not limited to:

• electric vehicle recharging infrastructure for light- and heavy-duty vehicles;

• hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for land transport;

• on-shore electricity supply for vessels over 5,000 GT in our maritime ports; and

• the supply of electricity to stationary aircraft in our airports.

AFIR is an important part of the broader European policy initiative, Fit for 55, designed to facilitate the EU's reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to attain climate neutrality by 2050. This aligns directly with the progression in policy and climate aspirations at the national level, as spearheaded by the Climate and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, along with subsequent carbon budget and sectoral emissions ceiling programmes.

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In a statement, Minister Ryan said:

"The ongoing transition away from fossil fuels in transport is being supported by an ambitious electrification strategy which is progressing in the right direction under our Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland office. However, we have to further accelerate the pace that we are putting in the necessary infrastructure.

"Our last policy framework in this space was published in 2017 at a time when we had just over 2,000 electric vehicles on our roads. We now have over 121,000 EVs on our roads and we need to make sure that the deployment of publicly accessible recharging and refuelling infrastructure will meet the ever-growing demand for alternative fuels.

"By accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels, transport users will benefit from an integrated network of publicly accessible recharging and refuelling points with more options to choose from, as well as benefitting from reduced air and noise pollution."

Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers, added:

"AFIR will act as a significant enabler for Ireland to deliver on our climate ambition, but also, as part of the EU Fit for 55 package, as a unified European effort in reaching net zero in our collective fight against climate change.

"It is a milestone policy that will pave the way for a robust alternatively fuelled infrastructure network to be enabled across Ireland over the next decade. Meeting these targets will also be key to support the transition of our road haulage sector and heavy-duty vehicle fleets, and ensure our ports and airports are sufficiently equipped with the appropriate level of infrastructure to provide the public and transport operators with viable alternatives to fossil-fuels.

"I encourage all our industry partners and stakeholders to participate in this consultation to set out their views on barriers to deployment they have experienced, as well as any supporting measures we need to put in place to ensure that these targets are delivered."

Submissions received will inform the preparation of an updated National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport. The Department of Transport expects to advance and publish an updated draft policy framework for further consultation in the second half of 2024, with draft policy frameworks to be submitted to the EU Commission by 31 December 2024 and final policy frameworks required to be submitted to the EU Commission by 31 December 2025.

The closing date for the public consultation is close of business on Friday 14 June.