Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [15196/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Department operates the "Travel Pass" (also known as the "TaxSaver Commuter Ticket") Scheme put in place by the Finance Act 1999 as an incentive to encourage the use of public transport by staff travelling to and from work. This scheme allows an employer to incur the expense of providing an employee with a monthly or annual bus/rail pass, without the employee being liable for benefit-in-kind taxation. Employees participating in the scheme benefit from reduced tax and PRSI payments and may avail of a salary sacrifice option to pay for their tickets.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Department also operates the "Bike-to-Work" scheme provided for by the Finance Act 2008. This scheme exempts from income tax the benefit-in-kind arising from the provision of a bicycle and related safety equipment by an employer to an employee, where the bicycle is used by the employee for travel to and from the workplace. A salary sacrifice option may be availed of for this scheme also.

Currently, there are 147 staff members availing of the Travel Pass and 41 availing of the Bike to Work scheme. In relation to travel on official business, the Department (including its Missions abroad) complies with the relevant Department of Finance instructions regarding travel for official business. These provide that the cheapest practicable mode of conveyance be used and that public transport is used as far as practicable. Taxis or cars may be used only when no suitable public transport is available.