Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

They are at the moment but they are coming down in price because every car company will switch to them. If they do not they will be gone, they will be history, they will be toast, they will be finished, good night and goodbye. They are all going to switch to them so the prices will come down and the lifetime costs will be lower. It will be cheaper. The only way it will work is if it is cheaper and better, and I am absolutely convinced this will be the case.

This is not enough. We also need to switch modes and get out of our cars because there are other costs such as accidents and congestion. Our towns, villages and cities are clogged up with cars rather than being beautiful living places. We do have to make the switch. It will be towards active travel first and foremost and making it safe to walk and cycle, particularly for children. Let us start with making it safe to walk for the children in our 4,000 primary schools and 700 secondary schools. This one change alone would transform our country and our children for the better. For health outcomes it would be the best public health action we could take.

We need to reduce the demand and bring back strong communities with town centres first. We need to bring back living on the main street and living within walking distance of the pub, the shop or the church. This would be all for the better. It creates communities.

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