Wicklow’s EV charger numbers lag behind regional neighbours despite national push
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow’s electric vehicle charging network has come under renewed focus following the publication of updated national figures showing the county with 121 publicly accessible recharging points. While this places Wicklow in the middle of the national table, the numbers put the spotlight on the role Wicklow County Council plays in addressing the gap.
The Department of Transport’s latest data, supplied by registered Charge Point Operators, shows that Wicklow sits ahead of counties such as Wexford and Carlow but significantly behind Kildare, which has 166 chargers, and far behind Dublin’s 724. On paper, Wicklow’s position appears respectable. In practice, however, the county’s rapidly growing population, high commuter traffic, and strong uptake of electric vehicles have combined to create a sense that the infrastructure is struggling to keep up.
Wicklow County Council finds itself at the centre of this conversation. While national agencies set the strategy and provide funding, it is the local authority that must identify suitable sites, manage planning approvals, coordinate with ESB Networks, and work with private operators to deliver chargers on the ground. The council’s decisions determine whether chargers appear in town centres, public car parks, community facilities, or not at all. As EV ownership rises, so too does the expectation that local authorities will take a more proactive role.
The council’s responsibilities are broad. It must balance the needs of residents, commuters, and tourists while navigating the practical challenges of grid capacity, land availability, and the commercial interests of private charging companies. Even when a private operator wants to install a charger, the council must approve the location, signage, and parking arrangements. Without that approval, the project cannot proceed. This makes the council a gatekeeper for the county’s EV future.
Wicklow’s slower early rollout of public EV charging infrastructure can be linked to its exclusion from the government’s initial Local Authority EV Charging Infrastructure Pilot Programme, a scheme launched in 2022 to help 15 selected councils develop local charging plans, trial new funding models and work directly with national agencies on site selection and grid coordination. Those pilot counties received early access to funding, technical support from Transport Infrastructure Ireland and structured guidance on mapping local charging needs, advantages that allowed them to begin installing chargers months ahead of the rest of the country.
Wicklow, not chosen for the pilot, had to wait for the national rollout phase before accessing the same supports, a delay that contributed to the county’s comparatively modest network of 121 public chargers today.
A new ESB high power charging hub at Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow.
The county’s geography features a mix of dense commuter towns and rural hinterland, which can be a factor that complicates planning. Yet the pressure remains: Wicklow ranks high for EV ownership, yet drivers find it difficult in finding reliable public charging, especially outside the main towns.
Recent developments suggest the situation is beginning to shift. High‑power charging hubs have opened along the M11 corridor, including major installations at Jack White’s Inn and the Bridgewater Centre in Arklow. These hubs, capable of serving multiple vehicles at once with ultra‑fast charging, represent a significant upgrade for long‑distance travel and local users alike. A planning application for a proposed 12 charger Applegreen hub in Greystones indicate growing momentum.
Francis O’Donnell, ecars manager ESB, Tadhg and Clare Kennedy, owners of Jack White’s Inn, Pat Fenlon, executive director customer solutions ESB and Keith Keady, project manager ecars ESB at the launch of a new high power charging hub at Jack White’s Inn in Wicklow.
Still, these high‑profile projects do not fully address the everyday needs of residents who rely on destination and neighbourhood charging. For many EV owners, the challenge is not finding a motorway hub but finding a reliable charger near home, work, or local amenities.
The Department of Transport is finalising a new data strategy with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to improve the accuracy and transparency of EV charging information. A refreshed National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy for 2026–2028 has been published for consultation, outlining expectations for local authorities and setting out a more structured approach to public charging. Once adopted, this strategy will place additional responsibilities on councils, including Wicklow, to map local needs, identify gaps, and deliver a coherent charging network.
For Wicklow, the challenge is clear. The county has made progress, but demand continues to grow. The council must now decide how aggressively to pursue new infrastructure, how to work with private operators, and how to ensure that every part of the county, from Bray to Baltinglass, has access to reliable charging. The decisions made in the next two years will determine whether Wicklow becomes a leader in EV readiness or continues to play catch up.