Plans for five more electric vehicle charging stations in Laois not enough
Laois TD Sean Fleming has called for facilities to be installed in areas without EV chargers
Five more charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) are planned for Laois, although one Laois TD has called for more.
Deputy Sean Fleming has called on the Department of Transport to ensure that EV charging points are provided in areas across Laois which currently have none.
As it stands, there are 17 charging locations with 62 charge points in the county.
Of these, Portlaoise has six charging locations and 28 charge points. There are two locations in Portarlington and four charge points. Ballacolla has two charging locations and a total of 11 charging points.
There is just one location in Rathdowney which has two charging points, Abbeyleix which also has two charging points, Killenard which has six, Meelick with four, Mountmellick with two and Cooltederry which has two.
Mountrath has one charging location at Shannon Street Slieve Bloom House which has just one charging point.
Deputy Fleming highlighted that many towns in Laois have no such infrastructure, including Borris-in-Ossory, Stradbally, Durrow and Castletown.
The Laois TD called on the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien to prioritise these areas for EV charging facilities.
A further five charging locations are planned for Laois. These locations will provide 24 more charging points.
However, none of the areas still waiting on charge points are included in the plans.
Two more locations will be provided in Portlaoise on the Mountrath Road and at the Portlaoise Plaza. One will be added to Ballacolla which will have 8 more charging points.
A station will be added in Abbeyleix at Breslins SuperValu and one at Corrib Oil in Mountmellick.
In addition to these plans, Minister O’Brien highlighted that there is a scheme in place as part of the Share Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme and five areas in Laois are eligible for financial support for EV charging stations as part of the scheme.
Eligible clubs include Annanough GAA Club, Clonaslee St. Manmans GAA Club, Park Ratheniska GAA Club, The Heath Golf Club and The Heritage Golf Resort.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme