David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has examined the possibility of supporting the introduction of top-up electrical charging points in towns and cities across the State; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26386/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Electrical vehicles, including hybrid-electric, plug in hybrid, or battery electric, offer an increasingly realistic solution in terms of reducing both Greenhouse Gas Emissions from transport, and dependence on imported fossil fuels. There has been very significant global investment in research and development in this field over decades and the technology is now maturing to a point where large scale commercial deployment is looking feasible in the medium term.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has recently published reports on Hybrid Electrical Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles. These reports focus on potential measures that might be used to stimulate uptake in Ireland and make a series of recommendations with regard to how this might be best accomplished. These provide a useful template for the way forward and will be considered as part of the work of my Department's Renewable Energy Development Group and in the Sustainable Transport and Travel Action Plan currently being finalised by my colleague, the Minister for Transport. I recently launched an event marking the decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to install a pilot project for plug in parking/charging facilities.