End of cash only parking machines for Laois public carparks
Cash only parking meters in Laois are to be replaced with contactless machines.
The county has 75 pay and display marking machines in Laois County Council owned carparks and on public streets.
They are "approaching end-of-life" the council says, and will be replaced by meters that do not require only cash, or contact.
Instead users can have the option to tap and park, or use their cash, or use the Parking Tag app on their mobile phones.
Cllr Thomasina Connell has welcomed the technology upgrade ahead.
She tabled a motion to the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking the council to install an option to use a card to tap instead of cash.
"At the moment it's cash only. People have less cash and coins on them. The new carpark in Portlaoise is a wonderful asset at €4 a day and you can use your card to tap. It's great foresight," she said.
Laois County Council have machines in the three largest towns of Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick to be replaced.
"The existingpay and display machines are approaching end-of-life, in terms of reliability and ongoing upkeep costs. A replacement programme will commence in 2024, whereby cash/contactless pay and display machines will replace cash-only machines," they confirmed in a reply to the motion.
They add that the newer machines are offered at their new 92 space carpark opened next to Portlaoise train station.
The Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald praised the Parking Tag App.
"It's the greatest app on the phone, it's so cheap and so good. My hairdresser showed it to me. The carpark is a fantastic facility, I'd say it was on the agenda for the past 20 years. We were forever on to Irish Rail," she said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley urged that cash still be accepted.
"The highest priority is to remain with cash. There's a big campaign to ensure you don't get rid of cash," she said.
Director of Services Simon Walton confirmed that cash will still be accepted.