Geraldine Herbert

Therefore, why are we targeting them with new cars?

Surely the way to make a just transition and to reduce emissions is to grow the second hand market and to ensure that people who are in terraced houses

and who don't have access to a driveway can pay and avail of cheap charging.

Remember, Matt, you're not getting £8,500 off it because the £3,500 is already in those prices, those prices that are quoted.

that has been adjusted for the SEI grant.

So all you're getting is 5,000 off it.

So that's what has been given today.

It's packaged as eight and a half, but it's actually only five.

Exactly.

So the point is, if we were serious about a just transition and reducing emissions, we should be looking at building a serious EV market, generating a serious EV market.

So therefore, fleets and leasing companies, that's where the money should be spent.

If they go EV, they eventually then filter into the second hand market and we'll have six, seven year old, eight year old EVs that can be bought then at a really low price point for these sort of families who can't afford

anything else.

We need to look at charging and ensure that everybody can avail of cheap charging prices because that's where the real benefit of having an EV is.

And we need to invest in public transport.

As I said, 10 million spent on a rural network link for bus services would be far better spent and would give people alternatives in rural Ireland, not just accepting the fact, oh sure, look, you know, they're car dependent, let's give them EVs.

The running costs would be way lower.

And yes, it's more or less the same price as you'd pay for a petrol or diesel.

But the problem is, Matt, the running costs are only low if you can avail of home charging.

And if you don't have a home charger, you're paying more.