Council to set up team to rollout EV charging points in Laois

Laois County Council is to hire a zero emissions engineer and establish a team to help with the rollout of EV charging points. 

Details of the plans were revealed by Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan, at the monthly meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.  

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan told the meeting that he had to cross the border if he wanted to charge an electric car. 

He claimed Graiguecullen was the forgotten end of county Laois. “If I want to charge my car I have to cross the border to charge my car in Carlow,” he said. 

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins said there were very few EV(Electric Vehicle) charging points in Portarlington and the Council was responsible for providing them.  

Senior Executive Engineer Tom Drennan said the Council had sanctioned a new position for a ZEVI(Zero Emissions Vehicle Ireland) engineer. 

“There is a national strategy being rolled out with a view to promoting and implementing more charging points across the country,” he explained. 

Mr Drennan said Laois County Council has also sanctioned a ZEVI team to deal with administrative and technical issues. He said they will identify locations and assist with EV charging locations. The team will likely come under the Council’s Active Travel section, he said.  

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Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming said the Council had already put chargers in other towns. He wanted to know how long it would take. 

“I would be of the view it would be in place this year,” said Mr Drennan.