Call to convert Laois telephone kiosks to electric car chargers

A project to replace public telephone boxes with electric car charging points should be rolled out by Laois County Council to expand the charging locations for the drivers of such vehicles.

That’s the view of Cllr John King, Fine Gael, who raised the issue of EV charging points with the council at a recent meeting. He tabled a motion calling on the local authority to install an electric vehicle charger in the Square, Rathdowney as part of the council’s initiative for climate change.

Cllr King outlined the project which was launched in 202 by EasyGo and Eir to spend millions of euros on fast EV charging points.

“Telephone kiosks are being removed and being replaced by with state of the art electric vehicle chargers,” he told the council.

Cllr King said the scheme was launched in Carlow in 2022 and Easygo has contracts to install similar chargers in Offaly, Kilkenny, Tipperary and other counties. He said Easygo was engaged with other local authorities to identify other potential locations at “zero cost to the councils”.

He suggested that Laois County Council meet with EasyGo to examine the potential of converting kiosks in Laois.

Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer, Roads, replied in writing.

“That this Council install an electric vehicle charger in the Square, Rathdowney as part of our initiative for climate change”

“Laois County Council will develop an application for the installation of an EV charger in the  Square in Rathdowney,” he said.

The issue was raised at the recent Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting in County Hall, Portlaoise.

Mr Donal Brennan, Director of Services, added that the council’s roads section has been in contact with companies such as Easygo to expand electric vehicle charging stations around Laois.

EasyGo and Eir say they are actively engaged with several local authorities around Ireland about this scheme and look forward to making further investment. They say that Eir telephone kiosks will be removed, and replaced (at or near the location) with Tritium 50kW modular fast chargers

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EasyGo claims to host and manage over 2400 chargers in Ireland. The first chargers in Co Carlow saw seven telephone kiosks replaced in  Carlow, Tullow, Bagenalstown and Borris.

The issue was raised at the recent Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting in County Hall, Portlaoise.