Additional Government policy is needed to encourage the use of electric vehicles. One of the principles in the Government's own EV charging infrastructure strategy is that for the majority of EV users, home charging will be the main solution. However, in new, more densely populated housing areas in my constituency such as the Adamstown strategic development zone, the SDZ in Clonburris, parts of Newcastle, City West, Saggart, Rathcoole and Palmerstown and in fact, in any modern urban or suburban housing development, this principle is not being adhered to.

In fact, home charging is being actively discouraged due to a lack of support for underground cabling installation. This also means the Dublin local authority EV charging strategy is not currently fit for purpose.

We need a legal mechanism to force management companies, especially those in apartment blocks, to proactively facilitate residents who wish to charge their vehicles using their own domestic tariffs. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, apartment charging grant provides an 80% subsidy towards works to facilitate home charging in apartment car parks. However, it has not been backed up by legislation. In many cases, management companies do not have the interest or guidelines to facilitate it. We need an amnesty for those who have proper underground cables installed to charge points near their homes and are then told they must remove them. There must be a new policy to permit licensed chargers to be erected or retrospectively applied for in order that homeowners whose parking spaces are on the far side of a footpath, for example, can erect a charge point so long as it does not cause an obstruction.

We also need to cater for other residents. By this I do not mean the provision of commercial chargers on the streets. In Adamstown, an array of on-street chargers near Shackleton have been out of order for about a month. The company that owns them, EC Charging, has not bothered to get back to me on this issue, which does not inspire confidence. These types of chargers will not cost the same as a home charger. They are only suited to people using nearby sports facilities or visiting relatives. This is not the solution. We need a hybrid on-street model to fill the remaining gaps. What could help - I am sure the technology exists - is subsidised chargers, either stand-alone or at lamp posts, that allow users to charge using their own home tariff with a login password or fob. Policy guidelines could be put together in a matter of weeks. Laws could be enacted in a matter of months.

I hope the Minister and his colleagues will take this on board. There is a lot of misinformation about EVs, including regarding how quickly their charge dies and that they cause more pollution, which they do not. In fact, EVs reduce overall carbon emissions and emit less on-street pollution. We must continue to encourage EV usage. The newer areas are the leaders in this field but they are, in effect, being penalised.

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. He probably knows better than I do that there are challenges in regard to the emissions from private transport. This is one of the really big issues we have in ensuring our country can move closer to the climate commitments we have to each other, not to mention those enshrined in law. Public transport and its greater availability will play a big part in that but the question of how we can change how private transport is used and how car journeys can be made in a way that reduces their carbon emissions is critical.

The Deputy corrected some of the misinformation that is out there. Electric vehicles have an important role to play in our efforts in this area. As their technology improves, we must look at what we can do in regard to the charging network. The local and regional electric vehicle charging networks are rolled out through the local authorities and are funded by zero emission vehicles Ireland, ZEVI. A lot of important work is being done in this area. For example, a contract has been awarded to deliver an additional 200 charge points at 50 different locations across Dublin, the majority of which will be located in local authority public car parks and will be rapid in nature.

That sets the background for the Deputy's question. He asked where we stand in regard to apartments and underground charging lines. He referred to the apartment charger grant and the kinds of changes we need to make. Work is under way on a regional and local EV charging network plan, which is currently at draft stage. I will ensure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware of the specific but important issues Deputy Gogarty has raised with me and ask him to look at whether or how they can be included in the plan that is being prepared.

I thank the Minister for agreeing to take my points on board. The roll-out of fast chargers is really suited to commuters, taxi drivers and others who need a quick top-up. The mid-range 7 kW to 22 kW chargers are supposed to charge over a period of four to eight hours. They are suited to a different cohort, namely, people going to the supermarket, going to play a five-a-side game or watch a GAA match. As an EV user for the past eight years, I know home charging is the cheapest, most effective solution. Unless we encourage people to home charge, we will not get the mass take-up we require. It is a no-brainer. Charging an EV at home is a quarter of the price of petrol or diesel. However, if people are forced into using on-street chargers, that differential decreases. I thank the Minister for his commitment in this regard.

The Deputy's point about home charging is important. Another really important feature of home charging is convenience and certainty. If people know they can charge their car at home before beginning a journey, that will give them the confidence that is needed. There must be confidence that a charging network is in place if we are to facilitate a change in how cars are used. There are lots of other issues in regard to the use of EVs, including their costs. We have had debates regarding the supports the State makes available to their owners. I take on board the issue of confidence in the charging network as an important one. I will make sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware of the issues the Deputy has raised to see whether they can be accommodated in the charging network plan that is being drafted.