Just 2% of Garda stations have vehicle charging points

LESS than 2% of Garda stations have points at which electric vehicles can be charged.

The statistic will be seen as just the latest example of the utter unreadiness of most State institutions for Environment and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan’s new climate change revolution in E cars.

The astonishing figure emerged after Sinn Féin climate change spokesman Darren O’Rourke asked a Dáil question to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform how many Garda stations have electric-vehicle charging points. Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said: ‘The OPW is working with Garda Estate Management to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points in Garda Stations around the country. A number of EV chargers have been installed to date and future installations are currently being planned for this year and beyond.’ The number in question is 13, or less than\ 2% of the 703 Garda stations.

Six of the stations are in Dublin: Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Fitzgibbon St, Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park, Stepaside and Rathfarnham.

The remaining charging points are scattered across the different locations of Drogheda, Co. Louth; Letterkenny, Co. Donegal; Waterford; Wexford; and Claremorris, Knock and Cong garda stations, all in Co. Mayo. Mr O’Rourke warned: ‘The fact that so few Garda stations have charging points tells an all too familiar story. It is further evidence of this Government failing to lead by example, further evidence of a “do as I say, not as I do” approach.

‘We know that a lack of EV charging infrastructure is a barrier to a speedy transition to EVs. This needs to be addressed,’ he added.