Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Looking at the vehicle charging structure for electric vehicles, at the moment the regulator has said that the charging points must be moved from the ESB. The ESB has been providing these points free of charge. That will not go on for ever. Progress on that needs to move ahead of the take-up of EVs, because if the charging infrastructure is not there, this take-up will not happen. While we do have some at the moment, they are thin on the ground. In places there may be one in a major town of probably 20,000 people, at a railway station or some such point. There would be a need for five, six or seven such points. What is the view of the Department of Finance in that regard? We tried already to get the views of the Minister on this.

On renewable energy, we have huge potential here with wind and wave energy and even solar and other forms, such as biomass and biogas and indeed hydro. The climate action fund of €500 million over ten years does not reflect that we are making a major priority of this issue. I note that the national development plan has a €116 billion programme underpinning that. There is €7.6 million Exchequer and €14.2 billion non-Exchequer funding. Can Mr. Watt tell me where the €14.2 billion non-Exchequer is coming from?

While the €50 million a year is welcome as a starting point, the fact that it does not escalate from €50 million as we move on from 2020 and 2030, would not give hope that there will be any significant change as a result of that fund.

What is pertinent here is to look at the case of Bord na Móna and its transition from brown to green. We had that discussion again yesterday with Bord na Móna. In the constituency where I live and which I represent this is of huge concern to us. To move from brown to green, there is a huge area there for investment. Does the Department see that Bord na Móna would need a significant piece of that investment to help it with that transition?

The other question on funding for transition relates to the approximately €105 million that comprises the public service obligation, PSO, subsidy for peat. Is it possible within the rules of the Department and European Union for that or part of that to be used to help assist with that transition? The climate action fund of €50 million does not appear to escalate as we move on over the next decade to decade and a half. Could part of the PSO levy be brought into play?

My other question is on the disruptive technology fund of €500 million. What is that; where is it coming from and what can it be used for? If it is disruptive technology does that mean moving from one technology to another? Could Bord na Móna and the ESB, for example, use that type of funding?