Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Finance the mileage rate for civil servants who undertake official business by bicycle; his views on whether this is adequate; the outcome of the review of methodology for determining the appropriate rates of payment which was being undertaken by him in 2003; and if the polluter pays principle informs this policy. [2452/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The current bicycle rate is 6 cent per mile. Following a review of the bicycle rate an increase in the rate has been proposed to the staff associations. This is based, in part, on inflation since 1990 and on the fact that the rate has not increased for a number of years.

The principles that inform the payment of the bicycle mileage rate are whether the use of a bicycle for official purposes for journeys over a certain distance is practicable, if it is cost effective on a value for money basis and would not result in a significant loss of official time.