Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Education and Science

Departmental Schemes

10:00 am

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 683: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of bike grants that have been processed to date in 2010 by teachers who are paid directly by her Department; if it is the case that because of the demand for the bike grant by teachers who want to reduce their tax liability with the introduction of the tax on car park space in 2010, that no applications for the grant can be processed by the relevant section or sections of her Department until 2011 and that the relevant section or sections of her Department have informed teachers that this is the position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30111/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates payrolls for the payment of approximately 85,000 serving and retired teaching and non teaching staff on a fortnightly basis.

A total of 913 applications for the cycle to work scheme for 2010 have been processed for the serving teaching and non teaching staff paid on these payrolls. The applications for the scheme were processed with existing staffing resources.

As a high percentage of retirements and new appointments take place at the commencement of the new school year the period from July to December is a very busy one for the section involved with paying the teaching and non teaching staff on the payrolls. Accordingly, it is not possible to process further applications for the cycle to work scheme this year.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I do intend to allow greater flexibility for application to the scheme in 2011. A Circular outlining the revised terms of the scheme for 2011 will issue in the near future.

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