Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist the Deputy mentioned. We are all affected by road safety and by deaths on the road and most of us, or our families, would know somebody who lost their life on the road. There are more and more people cycling, to work and recreationally, and that is very encouraging. The bike to work scheme, which the Deputy was involved in initiating, has been very progressive. There is additional money for cycling facilities, reflected in greenways that have been built all over the country in recent years, including those for commuters along the Grand Canal. In the capital envelope for the next four years there will be more money for similar projects, for cycling priority in cities and for greenways and this will also be in the ten-year plan. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill this week offering accelerated capital allowances, which are essentially tax incentives, to employers who put facilities in their workplace that are friendly for cyclists, such as bike racks to park their bikes and showers, in order to encourage more people to cycle.

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