Mayo councillor concerned as EV charging scheme terms rule out rural sports clubs

RURAL sports clubs are being excluded from a new scheme to provide electric vehicle charging at their grounds.

The terms and conditions of the scheme say priority will be given to clubs within 500 metres of facilities such as a shop/garage/cafe, with publicly accessible toilets.

Councillor Donna Sheridan highlighted how this rules out most clubs and she has asked Mayo County Council to write to Minister Eamon Ryan, who, she noted, has not been in the west of Ireland.

“How many of our clubs have a shop within 500 metres?” she asked at a Castlebar Municipal District meeting.

The scheme is 'not an option' for rural communities and she said they should ask for it to be reviewed.

As it stands it is effectively something for clubs in cities.