Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I have two further questions, one being for Dr. O'Tuama. I am glad he mentioned the bicycle festival in Clonakilty and the Bike Circus. Those concerned comprise an extraordinary group. Not only are they promoting cycling, but they are also promoting getting more use and a longer life out of bicycles. For a long time now, the group has been advocating safer cycling routes in and around Clonakilty. This comes back to the rural nature of the town. Some of its best amenities and attractions are perhaps 3 km, 4 km or 5 km from the centre. Unfortunately, the only way to get them safely is by car because you are genuinely taking your life into your hands on a bike. The group has been wonderful in trying to advocate additional cycling routes and signage. In many instances, they have been successful in getting extra signage to promote safe driving to give cyclists space.

Let me refer to one of the main challenges, which many Deputies and Senators at this meeting will have experienced. We are seeing a fantastic investment in active travel. A figure of €360 million was referred to. In some urban areas, this has translated into cycling routes and cycling lanes, but we are not seeing these to the same extent in rural areas. For me, a huge stumbling block is that local authorities are willing to back or invest in a project only when it gets to a shovel-ready stage. There is a big problem in this country getting projects to shovel-ready stage, mainly because local authorities are very slow to go near any project that involves a compulsory purchase order, a right of way or some type of access. They generally run a mile from it. I have experienced this at first hand. With the group Dr. O'Tuama mentioned and others, we are trying to promote, and get local authorities to back, the cycling routes we have identified, but they will not go near them. Has Dr. O'Tuama any suggestions on how to get around that or international examples of where people got around the issue of NIMBYism? People may not want to see additional cyclists passing their front door. There is an issue in this regard that is slowing down progress.

My second question relates to EVs and the ESB's electric car division. I will read the delegates' opening statements as soon as I get a chance. They may have touched on this subject already. What is the relationship with local authorities? Where a local authority owns the large car parks within a town but there is no sufficient provision of fast chargers, what is the process from the local authority's point of view? If an approach is made to a local authority by a group or a councillor to have fast chargers installed in a public car park, what is the process and where is the relationship?