Unable to visit sick Kerry relative due to lack of electric-vehicle charge points
A woman was unable to travel from Kildare to visit a sick relative in Causeway due to the lack of charging points in north Kerry for electric vehicles.
That was according to Fine Gael Councillor Mike Kennelly, who called on Kerry County Council (KCC) to install a high-speed charging point in every village and town within the Listowel Municipal District (MD).
In response to Cllr Kennelly’s question at Monday’s Listowel MD meeting, KCC said “the tender process for the procurement of a consultant to develop EV Infrastructure Strategies for Cork County Council and Kerry County Council is progressing. The future installation of EV charging infrastructure will be based on the strategy.”
The answer drew a sharp response from Cllr Kennelly and his Listowel MD colleagues, however.
“There was one person in particular coming to Causeway, she had a sick individual in the family who she was coming to visit, but unfortunately there was no charging point,” Cllr Kennelly said. “She has an electric vehicle, she lives in Kildare, and she couldn’t visit her sick relative.
“We have the most visited golf club in Ireland in Ballybunion, but we have no other part of north Kerry people can visit without having to go to an EV charging point, which there might already be a queue for.
“We’re five years into supporting EV vehicles going forward, and there’s nothing there to invite anyone who wants come to Kerry or north Kerry for the day.”
Cllr Kennelly asked if the high cost of high-speed charging points was a factor in their slow rollout.
Sinn Féin Cllr Robert Beasley supported Cllr Kennelly’s request and asked that “emergency action” be taken.
“It’s a sad reflection on whoever is responsible that we are still without EV chargers in our traditional seaside resorts or towns, where we should have them,” he said.
“How much is it going to cost us to hire a consultant to tell us where to put EV chargers?” said Fine Gael Cllr Mike Foley. “You’d have them installed by the time you’ve paid them. It’s the most irritating thing when I see this.”
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