Dr. Aoife O'Grady:

Yes. The issues there are really to do with the grid connection and the grid upgrades and what needs to be done to facilitate fast charging, especially in rural Ireland where you may be well away from the power network and substations. The infrastructure strategy proposes we set up a public-private forum because this is somewhere we need to work in partnership with the private sector. We are aware a level of State funding supports will be required. The question is what is the right size and amount for that and where does it go. My feeling is it goes into the grid and the network upgrades needed to deliver energy to particular forecourts. Then we come back to the question of what is the strategic location for the State and where do we provide those grid upgrades. We are not going to be able to provide them to every forecourt operator. The need will not be the same. We have described home charging already. I am sure the majority of people, especially in Clare, will have access to a driveway and a home charger. If we imagine the majority of the population will be able to charge their vehicle at home there will absolutely be a need for public charging but it will not be the same as at the moment where everyone is reliant on forecourts for refuelling. There will be a piece of work ongoing and we have already had very strong engagement with Fuels for Ireland and different forecourt operator-managers to try to assess what is needed and where the support should go. That process continues.