Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Centralisation is very much the idea. The Deputy asked about the numbers but we do not have the final details yet. However, there could and should be up to perhaps 200 mobility hubs. This would give great flexibility in terms of vehicles and the ability to involve various operators. We are talking about scale. To achieve this, the likes of the NTA must work with the local authorities to have a modular scheme that can be replicated, thereby bringing down the cost and increasing the speed of delivery. We have taken on additional staff with genuine expertise in this area. While ticking all the procurement boxes, we will be advancing the design and procurement mechanisms so the system will be ready to go as soon as the public procurement is completed.

With regard to SUVs, the Deputy is absolutely correct that there is a genuine issue with embodied energy, steel and all the other components in such vehicles. There are also road safety concerns in that if one is hit by a vehicle of the weight and size of an SUV, it is much more significant than if one is hit by a lighter vehicle. Also, parking-space requirements and the cost must be considered. While SUVs vary in range, they can be very expensive.

The Government has already introduced a range of initiatives to get people to switch to lighter and less expensive vehicles. The system for vehicle registration tax has been radically changed in the past three years.