Eir’s controversial ‘digital kiosks’ installed across Ireland have recorded modest usage, with each unit averaging only 524 calls since their installation in 2021, The Journal can reveal.
The telecommunications company has installed 63 of these modern replacements for traditional phone boxes, generating a total of 33,000 calls by the end of September. While 40% of these calls were to emergency services or freephone numbers, including crisis helplines, questions are being raised about whether the kiosks’ primary function is public service or advertising.
The kiosks, which combine a payphone with a digital information screen and large LED advertising displays, have attracted criticism from local representatives. Dublin City Council Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose described them as a “land grab for ad space,” highlighting concerns about footpath clutter and energy consumption from the bright LED screens.
Clear Channel, which manages the advertising component, markets the kiosks to potential advertisers as prime locations for reaching “vehicle and pedestrian audiences” on key commuter routes. Major brands and even state agencies have utilized the advertising space.
While Eir promotes the kiosks’ public information features, including local event guides, recent observations found outdated information being displayed. The company’s decision to install these units followed the state’s 2020 removal of the requirement for Eir to maintain public payphones, after usage had declined dramatically.
The development has sparked debate about the balance between public service and commercial interests in urban spaces, with some residents and council members questioning whether the advertising benefits outweigh the impact on public spaces. Dublin City Council planners have defended the installations, noting their critical function for crisis and help agencies, though concerns about their placement and size continue to be raised by community members.
According to The Journal, this situation reflects a broader conversation about the modernization of public communications infrastructure and the commercialization of public spaces in Irish cities.