Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The one in Portlaoise is very well used. I take the Deputy's point. If he thinks there should be more in Portlaoise, I will pass on that message to Iarnród Éireann and see what is the response. I share the Deputy's concern about people parking for the day and blocking the parking spaces and the charger. If that were to happen, it would be unforgivable. If it is happening, it should be remedied either by the ESB or Iarnród Éireann, or a combination of the two, because it is obviously counterproductive. It was used 45 times in a month but, if people are blocking them, that could obviously be improved.

In regard to electric vehicles generally, I am happy to report the uptake in Ireland has more than doubled this year compared to last year, and while that is admittedly from a low base, it is very encouraging. The barriers to electric vehicles are increasingly being overcome with wider vehicle availability, improving journey distance ranges, better affordability and greater consumer awareness. The Government is playing its part. An interdepartmental low emitting vehicles task force was jointly convened by my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to consider a range of measures to expedite the deployment of low carbon technologies, especially the uptake of electric vehicles. Recommendations from the task force were considered in the previous two budgetary processes and a generous package of measures to promote the uptake of electric vehicles is in place.

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