Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that. It is important that as policies are implemented, they are reviewed and changed. They must be dynamic in the context of and reactive to what is happening. I wonder, though, with this particular policy whether the entire country is being treated in far too similar a fashion. I ask this because people in Dublin are much wealthier. If I see EVs on the roads here, they tend to be very expensive models. Also, public transport is much more available to people in urban areas. To date, however, it would appear the Government's policy is to invest in those areas that would probably need this support less. The Government is now, however, shifting away from that stance and it is welcome that a change is being made. I am wondering, though, about the policy being changed for the entire country rather than just looking at those areas where subsidies should perhaps not have been provided.

If we look at rural areas, they do not have anywhere near the public transport provision they should have and that we need them to have. Equally, rural areas are not as wealthy. In addition, the EVs needed in rural areas, because of the longer distances to be travelled, would need to be more expensive because the battery capacity would need to be greater. Has the possibility been examined of having a more targeted EV funding scheme for rural areas - those areas in which people do not have access to public transport - in recognition of the fact they need more support and that this would be a good way to spend Government money.