Leitrim TD calls for rural drivers to get more incentives to buy electric vehicles

A Leitrim TD is backing calls for rural drivers to receive larger incentives to buy electric vehicles.

It comes as new figures show motorists in rural areas are more reluctant to switch to EVs.

Only 3.4 per cent of new cars registered in Roscommon in the past four and a half years have been electric - the lowest rate in the country.

The other Shannonside counties also rank poorly, with Longford, at 7.7 per cent, and Leitrim, at 7.9 per cent.

Former government minister, Richard Bruton, believes rural drivers should receive larger incentives to switch to EVs - which Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny supports.

Independent councillor Micheál Frain, from Ballaghaderreen, says a lack of infrastructure is also preventing people going electric.