The last public payphones in Laois are being removed this month

A number of public payphone locations around Laois are due to be repurposed as work gets underway to remove the last public payphones in the county. 

The removal marks the end of an era for users of payphones in the county. 

A spokesperson for Eir said the public payphones available at 17 sites in Laois will be removed by the end of March. 

Eir has been working with EasyGo and Laois County Council to turn 14 of the sites across Laois into Electric Vehicle rapid charging stations. 

“Eir and EasyGo have been working with Laois County Council since last year to determine the future of payphone boxes across the county. 14 sites have been agreed to become electric vehicle rapid charging stations and the remaining three payphone boxes will be removed by the end March,” the spokesperson revealed. 

Eir said The Universal Service Obligation (USO) for the Provision of Public Payphones was removed in 2020 due to steady decline in usage. At their peak, approximately 3,300 payphone boxes dotted the Irish landscape, complemented by over 5,000 indoor units.

Last month Eir issued a statement in relation to the removal of payphones nationally. 

Eir’s CEO Oliver Loomes  said: “We've taken deliberate steps, in collaboration with communities and local authorities, to thoughtfully transition this legacy infrastructure. Our goal has been over the past four years to find the best ways to repurpose or preserve these kiosks, directly involving the communities they serve. We are pleased that more than 200 sites will now keep people connected via new digital pedestals or electric car charging points.”