John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I will pick up on Deputy Ahern's point related to buy-in around electric vehicle charging. If I look at the likes of Local Link and EV chargers, they came on a similar journey at the same time. The perception, whether it is true or not, is that Local Link and the service it provides would be on a much more positive platform and trajectory than EV charging. It may be because we can see these buses in local towns and villages and people are using them, but there is definitely a body of work required to encourage people to get into EV charging. It has really hit an obstacle in terms of convincing people it is the way forward. It is to be hoped we will see an increase in car numbers, but we definitely need to iron out a lot of the creases at local level in terms of rolling out that infrastructure.

If we are finishing up, I have one point to brainstorm with witnesses. They have mentioned congestion and the whole area of Dublin being congested to the extent it is. There have been talks of outer ring roads like an M75 or whatever else. Do witnesses have any thoughts in terms of alleviating congestion through the introduction of a motorway? Mr. Creegan has experience in motorways so that is what prompted the question. Should we be looking at a whole new approach through a motorway from north to south right through the spine of the midlands, and truly opening up the country in terms of regional development?