Slow, unreliable EV chargers in Clare are failing to meet growing public demand

As Clare prepares to welcome over half a million people to the county next year for the 2026 Irish Open, calls have been made for additional electric vehicle (EV) charging points to be installed in two busy Clare villages.

Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Killeen has sought the installation of two further public charging points at Fair Lane Carpark in Corofin Village and Clos Innine Bui in Kilnaboy. 

The request was raised at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, which saw concerns raised over the EV charging points already available to motorists across the county.

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In a written response to the motion, Michael McNamara, Acting Senior Executive Engineer for Transportation, said Clare County Council is “currently at Stage 1 – Strategy Development” of a regional EV charging plan covering Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal.

He explained that consultants have been appointed to develop the strategy, with a draft expected to be published for public consultation in early 2026.

Mr McNamara added that following the strategy stage, the plan will progress through “Infrastructure Planning, Business Model and Partnering Approach, Procurement, Implementation and Operations.”

He stressed the council’s commitment to working with ZEVI and regional colleagues to deliver an “evidence-based Charging Network” ensuring “the appropriate charger is provided at the appropriate location for the appropriate purpose.”

Cllr Joe Garrihy backed the proposal but sharply criticised the length of time it is taking to deliver new charging points, saying the process has dragged on so long that “you would lose the will to live.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Shane Talty also supported the two proposed EV chargers, noting the issue of public chargers, has been discussed since 2019 and arguing the drawn-out timeline “is designed to wait out the situation and hope that the private sector delivers.”

He said the MD has “gone around and around” to every relevant agency, yet “nothing has happened in the meantime,” adding that councillors still “have to retain the will to persist.”

Independent councillor Ian Lynch acknowledged the growing need for more chargers in West Clare, noting that it was ultimately public pressure on social media that prompted the installation of Kilrush’s first EV charger last year, not council representation.

He explained that, because you cannot demonstrate usage without chargers already in place, community calls for them online help show the government that there is demand across West Clare, “They [the public] should start contacting the ESB directly, and I found X a very good option for doing that."

Cllr Michael Shannon added there are no fast chargers in West Clare, noting that existing chargers are so slow they “take half a day” and are essentially like plugging in at home.

He explained rapid chargers capable of powering a car in 20 minutes are completely absent, and with up to half a million visitors expected in September for the Irish Open, West Clare has no charging facilities that will meet the growing public demand.

Councillor Rita McInerney proposed the idea that the council pursue "community based" public EV chargers, where local groups take over securing a location for chargers and ensuring they are working in exchange for "a dividend back to the communities".

This is as she outlined how "we [the council] can't rely on the ESB to provide these services in terms of their reaction time when these things [chargers] go out of action and the fact that they have put slow ones in" the towns in West Clare that do have public chargers".

Cllr McInerney gave the example of how last year in Kilkee the public chargers broke and were not repaired for over a week, noting how those without private chargers had to drive to Kilrush to charge their vehicles and how "they are slow chargers anyway".