Plans to hike electric vehicle charging rates at Leinster House by almost 50 percent have been left on the shelf for more than a year despite concerns over the cost of running the service.
Senior management backed proposals in June 2025 that would have seen the cost for TDs, Senators and staff to charge their cars rise from 39 cent to 57 cent per kilowatt hour.
However, more than sixteen months later, no change has been made, and the bargain basement rate remains in place.
Internal records detail concerns that the fees collected were not covering the full costs of operating and maintaining e-charging infrastructure.
A submission said the existing price was calculated to cover electricity costs only.
It did not account for other expenses, including upkeep and other “back-office charging costs.”
The submission said: “The revenue received is not meeting actual costs, and [facilities management] recommends that we revise the current rate.”
It said the OPW had invested around €120,000 installing six new charging stations on Leinster Lawn, which can accommodate up to twelve electric vehicles at the same time.
Exact details of annual maintenance and other fees were redacted under FOI laws on commercial sensitivity grounds.
However, the submission argued that prices should be hiked by 46 percent to better reflect the actual cost of providing the service.
“This proposed rate aligns with those charged at public facilities,” it said.
It also said Oireachtas management should be able to increase prices by up to 10 percent per year without having to seek official approval.
The submission added: “The rates would be subject to reasonable adjustments based on future cost variations.”
The document was dated May 2025, and the proposals were formally agreed by the management board the following month.
They were then due to be submitted to the Oireachtas Commission for consideration at its next meeting.
However, a spokesperson for the Oireachtas confirmed that no change has yet been made.
They said: “A number of queries were raised in relation to the proposal, and the matter remains under consideration by the Service.
“The current charging rate fully covers the cost of electricity supplied through the EV charging service. There is no shortfall in the recovery of electricity costs.
“The proposed increase was intended to contribute towards additional costs associated with operating and maintaining the charging infrastructure.”