Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the policies in place in his Department to encourage the use of public transport by staff travelling to and from work; the policies in place to encourage staff to use public transport when travelling on departmental business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15190/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Staff in my Department can avail of the Easi Travel Plan Scheme for 2011. This allows staff to purchase annual travel tickets for use on public transport. The scheme allows an employee to forego part of his/her annual salary in lieu of the provision of the annual travel pass by my Department. The deductions from salary are facilitated by my Department's payroll system.

In respect of staff who are required to travel on Departmental business, my Department's Travel Policy provides, inter alia, that officers should always travel by public transport insofar as is possible and practical.