Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update in relation to the proposed public bike scheme in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40051/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department remains committed to exploring a range of mechanisms to seek to secure public bikes schemes in other cities in the state, building on the success of the Dublin Bikes scheme.  While schemes in  other cities  are  technically feasible, their commercial viability would require a collaborative approach with the private sector. Funding provision to meet the capital investment costs of the roll-out of public bikes in other cities has been identified within the 5-year capital funding allocation for Smarter Travel and Carbon Reduction Measures.  However, operational funding is not available from within the constrained current funding allocation.   

My Department, in seeking a means to progress the City Bikes Scheme,  is currently exploring, along with the National Transport Authortiy, the launching of an “expressions of interest” in scheme sponsorship procedure to further the process of engagement with potential private sector funding.