EIB partners with Ireland to support nationwide EV charging rollout

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a new advisory agreement with the Irish government to support the expansion of the country’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network as Irelad works towards its target of one million EVs on the road by 2030.

The agreement, signed in Dublin by Irish Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris, will see the EIB work with the Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) to help plan and deliver charging infrastructure across the country.

Funded by the European Commission through the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, the initiative will provide local authorities with procurement strategies, concession contract templates, financial models and implementation guidance to support the rollout of charging facilities.

The programme supports Ireland’s Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan to 2030, which aims to expand access to neighbourhood charging, public charging hubs and destination charging facilities in urban and rural communities.

Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien said the partnership would help ensure charging infrastructure keeps pace with growing EV adoption.

“The era of the electric vehicle in Ireland is not coming — it is here,” he said. “There are almost 235,000 EVs already on our roads, and we are on course to reach multiples of that figure by 2030. Drivers need to know that wherever they live, wherever they work, a charger will be there when they need it.”

EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris said the bank would bring experience gained from supporting EV charging projects across Europe.

“Ireland has set bold targets and the momentum is undeniable,” he said. “The EIB is here to ensure the infrastructure not only catches up but also stays ahead. We have backed EV charging networks across more than 14 countries, and we are bringing that hard-earned experience to Ireland. This is not just about installing chargers – it is about equipping every local authority with the tools, the contracts and the confidence to deliver at scale and at pace.”

Ireland had more than 205,000 electric vehicles on its roads by the end of 2025, with further growth expected over the remainder of the decade.

Under the plan, local authorities will lead deployment in their regions within a nationally coordinated framework. The objective is to integrate charging infrastructure into everyday locations, including residential areas, workplaces, public facilities and retail destinations.

The EIB has been involved in a number of EV charging initiatives across Europe, including financing programmes in Central and Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal, as well as advisory support for public charging projects in countries including Italy, France and Greece.

The latest agreement forms part of wider European efforts to accelerate the transition to low-emission transport and support the development of climate-neutral cities by 2030.