FOI 18-26: A request for information in relation to Electric Vehicle charging points operated at the NI Assembly

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our ref: FoI 18-26

24 June 2026

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 23 March 2026 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked:

‘Under the Freedom of Information Act, I wish to request details in relation to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points operated at the NI Assembly (NIA).

Your website says there are two EV charging points in the lower east car park (i.e. the car park used by visitors and members of the public) beside Parliament Buildings (PB): https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/planning-your-visit/electric-charging-points/

However, I understand there are also EV charging points located immediately behind PB, in the car parking area available for MLAs and NIA staff.

I understand the NIA / Assembly Commission (AC) operates a booking system for use of these EV charging points behind PB.

So therefore please disclose the following:

(1)  The number of EV charging points at the NIA.

(2)  For each EV charging point, please disclose:

(a)  their location (e.g. behind PB, in the lower east car part, etc);

(b)  who is permitted to use the charging point (e.g. NIA staff, MLAs, AC staff, etc); and

(c)  whether the EV charging point is available for free to the motorist, or requires them to pay.

(3)  The cost to NIA / AC of providing EV charging for free to motorists in each of the years 2024/25 and 2025/26 so far.

(4)  In relation to the booking system please disclose:

(a)  The number and duration of the booking slots available per day for charging an EV.

(b)  For the financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the number of booking slots used by MLAs.

(c)  For the financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the names of the MLAs who booked to use these EV charging points, and the number of slots they each booked.’

 

Our response

The Assembly Commission holds information in relation to your request.

(1) There are 6 car charging points located in the upper car park behind Parliament Buildings and 2 car charging points located in the Lower East Car Park.

(2) 

(a)    See 1.

(b)    The charging points in the upper car park may be used by all building users including Assembly Commission staff, Members and party support staff.  The charging points in the lower car park may be used by any person who accesses the Stormont Estate and wishes to charge an electric vehicle.

(c)     The charging points in the upper car park are free of charge. The charging points in the Lower East car park have a tariff applied of 32 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is consistent with the charging structure at the other three EV public charging points on the Stormont Estate.

(3)      This information is not held: the Assembly Commission does not hold metered data from the EV chargers to confirm the total cost.

(4)     

(a) In relation to the charging points, at Parliament Buildings, users can book parking at an EV charging point on different days with varying availability—

    • Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: 6 spaces available for all-day parking.
    • Wednesday and Thursday: 12 spaces available, divided into 2 time slots:
    • Morning: up to 1:15 PM
    • Afternoon: from 1:30 PM onwards
    • On non-sitting days 12 spaces are available, divided into the same 2 time slots as above.

(b)     Information on slot bookings for 2024-2025 is not retained.

(c)     Information on slot bookings for MLAs for 2024-2025 is not retained.

 

Further Information

You may request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission.  If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised. 

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS