Mr. Kenneth Spratt:

I will try my best. In his initial remarks, the Deputy mentioned EV hesitancy and the lack of infrastructure and charging points. That is a challenge for us. The electric vehicle policy pathway proposed that we establish of an office of low emitting vehicles, OLEV. We are doing that. We will be putting significant resources into that office. We accept that we need to up our game when it comes to charging points. The OLEV will look at incentives for installation of charging infrastructure for high-density residential areas. For example, where there are apartment blocks in which there may be up to 100 residents and ten of them are owners of EVs, how we ensure that they can charge overnight is one of the issues we will look at. We will also look at charging points in visitor attractions to ensure that we provide some incentive and cover some of the cost in order that it makes sense for that infrastructure to be put in place. People need to know that if they choose to visit a particular place they might have to wait a short while, but they will be able to plug in and charge up. The concern the Deputy raised is one we are alert to. I accept that we need to make sure we address it. The OLEV will also look at the second-hand market for EVs to give people assurances around the purchase of such vehicles, again, so that people do not have questions around the reliability of the vehicle and so on.

The suggestion with regard to e-scooters is interesting. A company that is new to Ireland is looking at introducing some sort of e-scooter scheme similar to the Dublin Bikes scheme. There is a market opportunity there. Based on what I have seen, that opportunity will be harvested by the commercial market. We will see how that goes. On Irish Rail, the Deputy's anecdote on the cost to him to bring a spouse and children to Dublin hits home. It is fairly compelling. It is an issue on which we will have to engage with the CIE group of companies to see what can be done at relatively short notice to ensure that prices are not as high as they are at the moment.

I mentioned the planning review being undertaken by the Attorney General in respect of making sure that people who have legitimate concerns can raise them. Important projects being held up by objections which, once they go through are unfounded or, at least, the final arbitration decides that they are without merit, is one all Ministers and Departments are alert to. I expect that the review by the Attorney General would help us to address some of the issues there.

The issue raised by Senator Dooley in his initial contribution and by Deputy Cathal Crowe as well in regard to the school run piece is coming across loudly and clearly today. I will take it up with my counterpart, the Secretary General at the Department of Education. There seems to be an opportunity there for us to harvest. I will engage with my counterpart and try to figure out how we can do that better.