Ms Marie Donnelly:

To finish on the point about charging points, one emphasis the council has placed on the question of charging relates to the fact the analysis has shown that for EVs, 80% of charging will take place in people's homes. As the committee will be aware, people can get a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for a home charger, which can be used in a home location. That is an important element and an important support. If you happen to have a smart meter or even if you just have nitrate electricity, you can charge your car at a reduced electricity price at home, for example, at night. That is an important point we need to keep to the fore in the context of EVs.

On Luxembourg, the Deputy is correct. It has rolled out its free transport policy. Paris, too, has done expensive experimentation on alternative costings for its public transport, as has Brussels. Most of the studies, including our own early analysis of what has happened in Ireland, show that reduced fares have increased passenger numbers in public transport, and that is why, from the council's perspective, this is something we consider should be continued-----