Local sports clubs could get a major upgrade with the installation of electric vehicle charging points, thanks to a new government scheme.
The Shared Island Fund will provide €15 million for the roll-out of publicly accessible, fast-charging stations for sports clubs and communities across the island of Ireland.
Dr Bláithín Gallagher, Member of National Executive Committee and Constituency Spokesperson for the Green Party, on behalf of the NW Greens, today welcomed the scheme and encourages sports clubs across the North West to apply. She said: “This excellent shared island initiative, a joint action from offices of the Minister for Transport and Minister for Sport, will help us progress away from our reliance on fossil fuels and facilitate the transition to Electric Vehicles. Local clubs are already at the heart of the community, so it will be provide easy access for local people to charging points for the vehicles while they are out and about in the locality supporting community sports events. This scheme will make electric vehicles an option for many people who wouldn’t have considered them viable in the past, and I’m delighted to see this opportunity given to local sports clubs across the counties of the North West.”
The scheme will allow sports clubs across the country, both North and South of the border, to apply to install a fast electric vehicle charge point at their grounds which can be used by members and the wider community. The initiative is in partnership with Sports Ireland and Sports Governing Bodies across the island, and administered by Pobal.
Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport, explained why sports clubs are an ideal location for charging stations: “Local sports clubs are the foundation of many communities and places where many of us frequently visit. That’s why it makes sense to provide charging stations somewhere accessible to the whole community across the island of Ireland. This is an important step forward on the road to transport electrification.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said: “It makes sense to work collaboratively on climate action, North and South, to achieve together a carbon neutral future. This scheme will support clubs and communities in becoming more sustainable and reinforce the message that by working together we can move away from carbon intensive transport and energy.”
The Sports Club EV Charging Scheme has been developed and will be implemented in partnership with Pobal, as well as sports organisations across the island including Sports Ireland, the National Governing Bodies for Sports (NGB’s) and their local affiliated sports clubs/member clubs.
