Local authorities have not installed any electric vehicle chargers for public, says Bruton

Local authorities have not installed a single electric vehicle charger in a public place despite having had access to grants for the past three years, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Dublin Bay North TD Richard Bruton told the Dáil on Tuesday that councils were “sitting on their hands” when it came to introducing practical measures to tackle climate change.

Mr Bruton said 20 per cent of people are now buying electric vehicles, and that figure had doubled in the past 12 months.

“That trend is going to continue but there is an obstacle standing in the way and that is the roll-out of public chargers,” he said.

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“The councils, despite three years of having access to a €5,000 grant, have not installed one EV charger in a public place.

“They should be targeting areas which are in every one of our constituencies who do not have their own driveway, and put [chargers] into the lamp-posts, put into the parking curbs, and give opportunities to allow those people also buy EV cars.”

The Fine Gael TD said placing chargers in public places was “low-hanging fruit”. Mr Bruton said a sense of urgency was needed from councils, who had a responsibility in relation to the climate action plan.

“They’re all producing plans but they’re sitting on their hands regarding these practical measures,” he said.

In response, Minister of State Joe O’Brien acknowledged local authorities were not installing chargers in public places “in adequate numbers”.

The Dublin Fingal TD said within his own constituency councils were installing chargers but might not be accessing the available grants.

“They are putting them in, not enough of them, but there is some action happening on the ground in my area at least,” he said.