Mr. Declan Meally:

Obviously the spread of where cars are being bought is based on population numbers. I do not accept that people in rural areas are subsidising the urban spread. As you are aware, Chairman, cars are being bought right around the country. The percentage of sales varies, obviously in regard to the overall numbers because we would expect more to be bought in Dublin due to the higher population there.

The carbon tax goes towards home upgrades to address fuel poverty. It is not the case, as you stated, Chairman, that it goes to wealthier car owners in the Dublin area. It is right across the board. For every petrol or diesel car that we can replace, it is important to the State and it is a benefit to the State to make sure that cars are electric. There will be continual reviews regarding the grants. That is what the Department officials, the Minister and the SEAI look at in terms of the caps to see what opportunities there are to change them.

When people do the maths on the overall cost of running a petrol or diesel car - there are cars available at all different price bands - it is way cheaper to run an electric car whether one lives in Laois, Offaly, Dublin or in my area of Longford.