COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 09, 2023

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor M. Lynch

Can the manager confirm whether the council would refuse to take in charge an estate that has previously allowed the installation of ducting under common area footpaths for the installation of EV charging points?

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council is working with our colleagues in the other Dublin Local Authorities in creating policies and procedures around the management of EV charging in our County.

There are currently a number of concerns regarding the Taking in Charge of previously installed EV infrastructure under common footpath areas including:

1. The quality of the reinstatement of the ducting trench across the footpath. If the footpath was already Taken in Charge we could manage this aspect through the Road opening licence process but not if the footpath is private when the EV ducting work is carried out.

2. The position charging unit upstands that may cause trip hazards or restrict the full width of the footway.

3. Cabling that may cause a trip hazard in publicly managed areas.

4. Ownership of space: Do the persons who installed the EV charging space actually own the charging parking space, or have they taken over a common shared parking space for their sole use?  If the persons have "taken over" a shared space, this would lead to significant problems in managing parking when the estate is "Taken in Charge."

For the reasons outlined above, SDCC would have significant concerns if previously installed EV charging infrastructure was in place before SDCC initiated the Taking in Charge process in a Housing Estate. Each location would have to be assessed on a case by case basis.