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Government “must upgrade infrastructure” for electric vehicles

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The Kerry chairman of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), David Randles, says the Government needs ‘to get up to speed’ if a new EU directive on electric cars is to work.

Earlier this week the EU voted to phase out the sale of any new international combustion engine cars by 2035.

That means in 12 years’ time it will be impossible to buy a new petrol or diesel engine car anywhere in the European Union.

Mr Randles, whose family have been involved in the Kerry motor industry for over one hundred years, has welcomed the news from a car sales and manufacturing point of view.

“Electric is the way forward,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“But it is up to the Government to provide the infrastructure and enough power. This can only work if everyone is up to speed.”

Meanwhile Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Cahill has renewed his call on the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Tourism to initiate a grant scheme, supporting the installation of Electric Vehicle chargers at hotels, guesthouses and other tourism sites.

“The prevalence of Electric Vehicles on our roads is increasing by the day as more people are encouraged to reduce their emissions to help the environment. Our network of EV chargers is small and long delays can occur when using them, even at present. When the expected rise in visitor numbers begins for the upcoming tourist season of 2023, we are not ready for a large increase in EV's requiring a daily charge,” said Cahill.

“If proprietors of all accommodation outlets were encouraged and financially supported to install EV chargers at their properties, this would be not alone attractive to potential guests, but would also be helpful in reaching our national target for emission reduction and at the same time would encourage more people to switch to Electric Vehicles.

“I am surprised that this initiative has not already been implemented as it is a quick fire way of increasing our EV charger network, which is woefully inadequate at present. I moved a Notice of Motion at a recent meeting of Kerry County Council in regard to this important matter and I was pleased to receive all party support to put pressure on the relevant departments to follow up on it.”

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Massive Park Road housing development given green light

A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road. The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near […]

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A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road.

The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near An Post’s sorting office, will include a variety of properties from five-bed houses to single apartments, along with a crèche and over 500 car spaces and over 300 bike spaces.

The development has been welcomed by local councillor Martin Grady.

“Killarney has a massive housing shortage so this is very positive. It will retain young families in the area, stimulating economic growth,” he said. “After 17 years of different planning applications it’s finally coming to fruition.”

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Ballydribeen residents living in fear due to anti-social behaviour

Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate. Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits […]

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Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate.

Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits in the last week.

Local councillor Martin Grady told the Killarney Advertiser that residents are “living in fear” as a result of very serious incidents in the last week alone.

One house in the estate was badly damaged when fire crackers were placed inside a letter box.

Another house had its windows smashed in over the weekend.

“It’s a major problem,” added Grady after meeting residents there earlier this week.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Tuesday night.

A passing motorists had rocks thrown at his car while driving along the bypass whch is adjacent to the estate.
Taking to social media, local primary-school teacher Pádraig O’Sullivan posted:

“Travelling home tonight, at 11.05pm on the Killarney side of the bypass our car was hit by a rock – not a pebble – from the Ballydribben side , which hit the passenger door.

“It was centimetres away from hitting the window where my father, who is visually impaired, was sitting.

“This could have caused catastrophic permanent injury to him.

“The Killarney Garda were on the scene within three minutes.

“They can’t be patrolling the bypass all night.

“It comes down to parenting. You should know where your children are at this hour and be able to teach them what’s funny and what ruin a person’s life or cause a fatal crash.“

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