Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Leyden raised the issue of the electric vehicle network. There are currently 668 charge points and 77 fast charge points. As I recently announced, through the climate action fund the ESB will invest in approximately 30 fast charge points. There will be multiple locations, mainly on motorways, and it will also upgrade a number of them. Hundreds more, therefore, will come on stream. On the need for their availability in local towns and so on, I am examining the local authorities' potential role in that area. From 2020, every employer that has the use of more than 20 parking spaces will have the obligation to provide electric vehicle chargers. We need to expand the network and, in the context of the plan, I will examine whether our various initiatives are adequate to achieve the level of density required. I am reminded of a phrase that is often used to describe a type of anxiety.