Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the expansion of public bikes schemes in Dublin and other urban areas across the State. [52665/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Building on the success of the existing  Dublin Bikes Scheme, my Department has been working closely with the National Transport Authority and has made significant progress both on the expansion of the Dublin Bikes Scheme and on exploring a range of mechanisms to seek to secure public bikes schemes in other cities in the state.   

Regarding the expansion of the existing Dublinbikes scheme, I understand from the NTA (who is working closely with Dublin City Council on this) that the design of the extended scheme has been substantially completed at this stage. Discussions on the commercial elements are continuing between Dublin City Council and JC Decaux (the operators of the current scheme).

  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.  Their commercial viability requires a collaborative approach with the private sector.

  The NTA has procured technical consultants who are progressing the design and arrangements for the bikes schemes in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Separately, the NTA, on behalf of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has sought expressions of interest in the provision of sponsorship to public bikes schemes in the regional cities.

I would be very hopeful that there will be considerable private sector interest in putting themselves forward and that a sponsorship deal will prove to be very attractive . This is a wonderful opportunity for the right partner to get involved and share in the success of smarter travelling in cities.