Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's workplace travel plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5852/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not, to date, adopted a specific workplace travel plan. However, it is supportive of the Government's Smarter Travel Policy, launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February, which recognises the valuable role that workplace travel planning can play in making commuting travel patterns more sustainable.

There are a number of initiatives being undertaken by my Department which contribute to more sustainable travel to work. The Department of Foreign Affairs promotes the use of public transport for travel to work by supporting the Civil Service Tax Saver Commuter Ticket Scheme. The new bicycle scheme, which provides the facility to purchase a bicycle and related equipment up to €1,000 on a tax free basis, will be fully implemented by my Department. There are a number of secure locations provided for Departmental staff to leave their bicycles and I understand that a significant number of them either cycle or walk to work. In addition, there are a number of family friendly work/life balance initiatives which are currently in place in my Department. Many of these initiatives result in a reduction in the number of people travelling to work.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has developed a policy, in line with the broad Civil Service wide initiative, to promote the wider use of e-working. The initial pilot programme in my Department, commenced in 2005, was successful and has been extended to 2010. At present, eleven officers have an element of e-working in their jobs.