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Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
EV owners have their say: `After five years of EV ownership, we will switch back to petrol or diesel'
We asked our readers to tell us about their experiences of EV charging in Ireland. In particular, how do they charge their electric vehicles in built-up areas where EV owners might only have on-street parking? The callout followed an Irish Times repor t on an EV owner in Dublin 6 who was ordered to remove an unauthorised 'charging arm' by Dublin City Council . In their responses readers cited the difficulties they face charging their electric or hybrid car if they do not have off-street parking. Others reported that public charging points are over-subscribed, and they often have to wait to access these charging points at anti-social hours to ensure they will be available. These are some of the responses: 'We have an EV in Rathmines. We cannot convert our front garden into a driveway as our terrace is a protected structure. We have a wide footpath that a charge arm won't work with, so we haven't installed one. I contacted the council regarding a Kerbo charge gulley but they rebutted my request and referred me to section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, which prohibits any activity that creates hazards or obstruction on a public road (footpaths are considered public roads). Though Dublin Local Authority launched an electric vehicle charging strategy in 2022, which recommended the development of charging hubs in the short term at various points across the city, there are very few public charging points deployed to date. I have contacted local councillors and TDs but to no avail or support. Councils all over the UK have deployed footpath solutions such as kerb adjustment, charge gulleys and high-speed chargers for houses that have electric cars but no off-street parking. As far as I can see Irish authorities have made no effort to lead the way here and develop solutions. Surely it's not beyond a council engineer to develop typical details, an accompanying risk assessment and deploy a solution in a similar format to footpath dishing for driveways. On our street there is a cast-iron rainwater gulley and a water meter in the footpath outside every house but for some reason we can't get a gulley for EV charging. We charge our car at SuperValu in Kimmage but often have to wait for ages as it is very congested with taxis that park there. I think it would make sense to have some level of differentiation between private and commercial users, eg dedicated taxi-charger stations. READ MORE John Whelan Co Dublin There is a complete lack of charging infrastructure within Ireland. I have owned an electric car for five years now and will be switching back to petrol or diesel. The entire EV scheme is doomed to failure in Ireland. There are insufficient charging ports for all small areas. In addition, all new housing has been built with 0.5 parking spots, which means that those who move there may not have the opportunity to park their car to charge it. The demand for cars will not reduce because the transport infrastructure is insufficient. Those cars will not be electric because the electric charging infrastructure is appalling. One particularly annoying circumstance is when you arrive at a charging destination where there is no fast charger, and have to wait for the person to finish and disconnect, which adds hours to a journey. Often the only available chargers are the slower 22kW ones, which means my car takes 6-8 hours to charge. Dublin resident (Name withheld but verified by The Irish Times) We installed a device at the back door of the house and we have a 'garage' entrance replacing a door. We did not seek planning for changing the door to a pull-down garage-type door. My lawyer (ie me) advised me that it was exempt. DCC has done very little on EV charging, and it continues to charge for on-street parking while charging. I have zero reliability on any public EV devices. We hire a car when travelling out of 40km radius. Greg Allen, Co Dublin I live in Dublin 8, with on-street parking and an EV. I charge my car using the public charging stations and they are so busy that we often have to charge the car at 11pm. If I'm lucky I might get a charging spot in work once a week if I get there before 7am. When you have on-street parking you are not eligible for a grant to install a home charger, which seems like a real policy gap. Some people near us have installed chargers and use a mat to run the cable over the pavement when charging, which I think is entirely reasonable but which some neighbours complain about. It's not easy to charge an EV in a city location. Ironically, EVs are really well suited to city driving. I cycle where I can, but a car is handy for groceries or for getting the kids to soccer practice on time after work. Aisling Kelly Co Dublin [ Germany might have solved Ireland's urban EV charging problem Opens in new window ] My wife and I each have plug-in hybrid cars but often find that the latest ESB high-power chargers are out of service. This week alone I found the chargers at Carnmore and Charlestown were out of service. When I call the ESB E-cars helpline I am made to wait ages to get through to a human, before being told that they can't help me. Even worse, sometimes the helpline number on the charger is out of date. Dermott Crombie Co Galway
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Introduction of single-step approval system aims to boost Galway housing targets
The single-step approval will 'accelerate the delivery of homes' says Housing Minister, James Browne TD. The transition will ultimately eliminate the existing four-step process. 'In order to ensure transparency and accountability with the public, the Department will begin publishing the new-build social housing delivery achieved by all local authorities as set against their targets.' Between 2022 and 2024, Galway City achieved only 10% of its target of 748 own-build social houses. When accounting for all new-builds, including Local Authority, Approved Housing Bodies, and Part V homes, 467 out of 748 units were delivered, representing a 62% fulfilment rate. Galway County Cllr Mary Hoade said that these figures prove that the multi-stage process is causing a 'bottleneck', and the transition cannot be done without 'strong oversight' to ensure it is not 'compromised in the pursuit of speed.' These figures were shared shortly after a Galway County Council plenary meeting where Administrative Officer John Waters updated the council on affordable housing developments. He outlined a vision for future developments comprising approximately 20% social housing and 80% affordable homes Currently, the approval process combines a four-stage plan and a single-stage process, depending on whether a project exceeds €8 million in cost and delivers more than 25 units. Under the new system, this mixed approach will be replaced entirely by the single-stage approval model. To further expedite social housing delivery, the changes will include standardised design layouts and specifications incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). This standardisation is intended to streamline planning and construction, enabling local authorities and approved housing bodies to deliver homes more quickly. 'Streamlining approvals into a single stage may reduce bureaucracy and allow for faster commencement of housing projects. If implemented effectively and accompanied by sufficient resources, this could accelerate the delivery of homes where they are urgently needed.' Said Cllr Hoade. These new arrangements are expected to take effect in Q3 of this year provided transitional measures proceed as planned. For residents, much of the process around social housing applications and submissions will remain unchanged. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications in person to Galway City Council to ensure accuracy. Funded by the Local Democracy reporting Scheme.
North Wales Live
02-07-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
'Vile' anti-English graffiti appears in quaint Conwy Valley village
Anti-English graffiti in a quaint Conwy Valley village has been described as "vile". The words 'f*** off Saeson (English)' were found painted on a road junction in Trefriw on Monday. This was shared on a village social media group where it was roundly condemned by locals. Conwy council were informed and were praised for a quick response in removing the graffiti within 24 hours. (Warning: An image containing the full words is contained in an embedded social media post in the story). Local councillor Mostyn Jones said there was "no room for hate in our communities" and said the response from the community showed it was "tolerant and welcoming". Senedd member Janet Finch-Saunders warned messages like this could damage the reputation of an area that is popular with visitors. Cllr Mostyn Jones said: 'This is vile graffiti. I am very grateful to the Local Authority officers who responded urgently to my report and cleaned the road within 24 hours. 'The discriminatory public message was rightly opposed by numerous locals on social media, which goes to show that we are a tolerant and welcoming community in the Conwy Valley. 'The minority who do not believe in inclusivity should learn that there is no room for hate in our communities. 'The person or people responsible for this distressing act should hold their heads in shame and be aware that locals like me will not stop standing up for kindness in our communities, and campaign to stamp out such foul acts'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Janet Finch-Saunders MS added: 'I thank Cllr Mostyn and all members of the public who called out this hateful message. 'Across Aberconwy businesses and people's livelihoods depended on the tourism and hospitality sector. Do the perpetrators of such nastiness not realise that if such hate continues our area could develop a bad reputation with visitors, lose customers, and ultimately jobs and money for locals?'
Wales Online
02-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Vile' anti-English graffiti appears in quaint Conwy Valley village
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Anti-English graffiti in a quaint Conwy Valley village has been described as "vile". The words 'f*** off Saeson (English)' were found painted on a road junction in Trefriw on Monday. This was shared on a village social media group where it was roundly condemned by locals. Conwy council were informed and were praised for a quick response in removing the graffiti within 24 hours. (Warning: An image containing the full words is contained in an embedded social media post in the story). Local councillor Mostyn Jones said there was "no room for hate in our communities" and said the response from the community showed it was "tolerant and welcoming". Senedd member Janet Finch-Saunders warned messages like this could damage the reputation of an area that is popular with visitors. Cllr Mostyn Jones said: 'This is vile graffiti. I am very grateful to the Local Authority officers who responded urgently to my report and cleaned the road within 24 hours. 'The discriminatory public message was rightly opposed by numerous locals on social media, which goes to show that we are a tolerant and welcoming community in the Conwy Valley. 'The minority who do not believe in inclusivity should learn that there is no room for hate in our communities. (Image: Mostyn Jones) 'The person or people responsible for this distressing act should hold their heads in shame and be aware that locals like me will not stop standing up for kindness in our communities, and campaign to stamp out such foul acts'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox Janet Finch-Saunders MS added: 'I thank Cllr Mostyn and all members of the public who called out this hateful message. 'Across Aberconwy businesses and people's livelihoods depended on the tourism and hospitality sector. Do the perpetrators of such nastiness not realise that if such hate continues our area could develop a bad reputation with visitors, lose customers, and ultimately jobs and money for locals?' Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
The Sun
24-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Households on benefits urged to apply for £200 free cash NOW – but you need to be quick
HOUSEHOLDS on benefits will now be able to apply for £200 payments for free, until funding is exhausted. It comes as part of the Household Support Fund that is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. The scheme launched yesterday, and will be open for application until March next year. It comes through a fixed amount of money that is available to the Local Authority to help support the households most in need. Each council in England has been allocated a share of £742 million from the fund. This is Round 7 of The Household Support Fund scheme in Birmingham, which has been extended multiple times. Eligible households in Birmingham that are facing hardship will be able to access the grants for essential costs like groceries, energy bills, water, and basic supplies. This Hardship Grant Community Fund is completely free to apply to, with no fees, text requests or bank details involved. Receiving a grant from the fund will also not impact any other benefits households may be additionally receiving or be entitled to. Those who have already submitted a successful enquiry into the scheme may have been added to the Waiting List, who can expect a call from the local area within the next 3-4 weeks. The grants will be distributed by the Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), and can include up to £200 in funds aimed at helping households with food and energy costs. Applications for the payment can be made by completing the enquiry form online, and answering questions to determine suitability to a grant. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now Completing the enquiry form does not guarantee a grant, and eligibility will be checked. To be eligible for the grant: You must be a Birmingham Resident You must be experiencing financial hardship, particularly with regards to covering costs linked to food and energy Your household must not have received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months Those applying may be required to provide proof of address and means-tested benefits. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible. What if you don't live in Birmingham? The £742million Household Support Fund has been allocated to councils across England to help residents facing financial hardship. You do not need to live in Reading to apply. If you're on a low income, receiving benefits, or struggling to afford essentials, you may be eligible for support. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Applications are handled by local councils. Some have already opened their schemes, while others are expected to launch soon. Residents are advised to check their local council's website or social media for updates. Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply. In some cases, councils may contact eligible households directly by post.
