Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

I will deal first with the issue of active travel and I thank the Deputy for raising this. There is broad support for it. To take 2024 as an example, we spent more than was allocated. As the projects come through, we can move money within the Votes. The delivery has been excellent. The baseline that we have committed to in the programme for Government is €360 million per annum, so it is €1.6 billion or €1.7 billion over the term of the Government and probably more, which is very significant with regard to active travel.

I want to see the further advancement of the safer routes to school scheme. I noted in my opening statement that we have seen a number of schools enter the programme, which is transformational for school safety. We have monitored air quality around schools at local authority level and, with the safer routes to school and school streets programmes in place, we have seen an incredible improvement in air quality around schools. There have also been changes in behaviour. People realise it does not rain as much as they think it does in Ireland and that you do not get drenched every time you walk or cycle to school. It is great for our kids. It is a programme I am very committed to.

I opened the active travel and greenways conference in Limerick earlier this year and I have met a number of indigenous Irish firms. There is a growth in that sector and I am supporting it. I will not delay on that but the Deputy can be assured that the programme is going to be continued and I want to see it accelerated.

I want to be associated with Deputy Daly's remarks regarding Kerry Airport and the regional airports. I have used Kerry Airport myself. It is a fine and successful airport. Our regional airports funding will continue to support them. We are very lucky to have committed people. It makes a significant difference in that region. When we couple Kerry Airport with the continued growth in Cork and Shannon airports, it is very welcome.

With regard to EV charging, I have met with Marie Donnelly, the chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, both individually and also with the whole council. I welcome its report, which was constructive, critical in parts, but also instructive on what we need to do. I have published the EV charging infrastructure national plan and we are funding it. In answer to Deputy Daly last night, I gave specific details about further fast EV charging points across our motorway network and regional roads. The Deputy is right to highlight that we are behind the European average. We have a strategy to accelerate the delivery of EV charging across the country and not only do we have a strategy, but it is funded and we will fund it. We will be making further announcements later this year regarding specific projects.