Ms Marguerite Sayers:

This infrastructure is expensive. We work on providing it ahead of the anticipated need. As I mentioned, it is hoped our current programme, particularly those high-powered chargers, will facilitate 400,000 cars on the roads. If we need to get to 1 million, we will need more infrastructure. That might be provided by us. It might be provided by others. We will certainly react to demand as it develops.

The Deputy asked about the capacity on the grid. It is something our colleagues in ESB Networks are working on. They are carrying out those trials in Dingle to make sure they can understand the impact of many people in one location charging EVs. What will be important for all of us is that the signals are given to users - I am one - that we charge at night when there is effectively spare renewable generation that otherwise might be constrained off and might not be used. That can be used now and helps to decarbonise. It is, in effect, a way of storing renewable energy. To give signals to people, especially if we have 1 million cars on the network, that they use night-time primarily to charge their cars and that they do so through home charging would be beneficial in terms of emissions within the country. The ESB is already planning for the additional requirements for charging in various locations and it probably will require a level of network reinforcement. It will be less reinforcement if that charging happens at night for all those good reasons because other loads will not be there at night in locations. They are doing a lot of work and planning for that as it stands.

From our point of view, having the signals to move to night-time charging is beneficial in terms of emissions. The rest of the time we will be providing the infrastructure to allow people to charge as they travel around the country outside of that night-time charging.