Irish sport clubs get EV Charging Boost

38 golf clubs on the island of Ireland will benefit from the government’s Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Infrastructure Scheme, funded through the Shared Island Initiative and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) infrastructure funding

The Scheme received 295 applications in total, of which 227 met qualifying and suitability criteria and are eligible to apply for the final phase of the scheme. 

The main reasons some applications were unsuccessful were not satisfying some minimum requirements including – no license submitted to facilitate site visits, no 3-phase electricity and/or no toilet facilities on site or within 500m.

Of those 227 clubs, 48 are in Northern Ireland and 179 from Ireland. The clubs are now eligible to move to the next stage in the process, whereby they can draw down on funding from a pot of €15m to install new EV Chargers on their grounds for their members and visitors, subject to reaching agreement with a Charge Point operator from a pre-approved panel. 

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: ‘Our aim is to ensure that we have strategically placed EV chargers that match people’s own everyday activities and behaviours. It makes perfect sense therefore that when people go to their local sports clubs, whether it’s to drop off kids, watch a match, play a round of golf or get onto the training field themselves, they can top-up their EV charge while they are there.

‘These sports clubs chargers are just one part of our national roll-out of a €100m investment in EV Infrastructure that will serve national road, destination and neighbourhood areas as part of Ireland’s EV Infrastructure Strategy. I look forward to seeing them progress now to the next phase and their delivery over coming months.’

Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland said: ‘We are delighted to see 38 of our affiliated golf clubs included in the next phase of the EV charging infrastructure roll-out. This initiative aligns perfectly with Golf Ireland’s sustainability plan, ‘Drive the Green,’ which focuses on reducing our carbon footprint and promoting greener practices across the sport.

‘Golf clubs have long been an integral part of local communities, and this support from the government helps strengthen that role, giving clubs the tools to contribute meaningfully to Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future.’