Lack of EV chargers ‘embarrassing’ says Laois councillor

The lack of public EV charging points in Stradbally was branded “embarrassing” at a recent council meeting. 

Despite hosting Ireland’s largest music and arts festival, the Electric Picnic, Stradbally didn’t have a public EV charger or filling station, a meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District was told. 

Fianna Fail Cllr, Paschal McEvoy, said the town still won’t have the facilities next week when another of Ireland’s major events, the National Ploughing Championships, attracts around a quarter of a million visitors to the area.  

He tabled a motion which was similar to a motion he had tabled in September last year. It asked “that this Council give an update as to when ESB Charging points will be available in  Stradbally.”

In response, Acting Director of Services, Paul McLoughlin said “Laois County have been working with Eir EasyGo for the provision of EV charging points on the Main Street in Stradbally for a period of time. Following submission of an application enquiry the  ESB reverted identifying capacity issues at the chosen location.  

Alternative sites have been identified and are currently under assessment for available power capacity. Should capacity be available, installation will follow within two to three months. Laois County Council have installed a range of EV chargers in Portarlington, Portlaoise and Mountrath under this arrangement in the last number of months.”

Cllr McEvoy said he found it difficult to understand how the chosen location didn’t have capacity. He questioned the government targets on EVs which set out a plan for 950,000 by 2030.  

“How in the name of Jaysus are we going to have all these electric vehicles on the road,” he asked.  

“If the simple basics of getting a powerpoint isn’t there how are we going to move forward?” he asked. 

Cllr McEvoy said he couldn’t understand the ESB’s commentary on the issue. He didn’t believe the capacity to charge a car would be massive. 

He pointed out that there was nowhere between Portlaoise and Carlow to charge an electric car. Cllr McEvoy said he would revisit the issue if no chargers were installed in the coming months. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran noted that sales of EVs were in decline in Ireland. 

“There is no charging points anywhere,” she claimed. 

“In every other country they put in the charging points and then bring in the cars,” she insisted. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan said he fully supported the motion. He claimed the government was “talking through two sides of their mouths as regards EV cars.” 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan said “I find it very embarrassing that the area is hosting world class events and we haven't got that basic piece of infrastructure in place.” 

She welcomed the motion and said the issue needed to be resolved as a matter of urgency.