Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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302. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projected increase in the number of children cycling to school he estimates will result from the Cycle Right initiative; if he or his officials have explored the idea of introducing a scheme for bike purchases for children whereby parents could claim tax relief in a scheme similar to the cycle to work initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10572/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In 2014 my Department engaged Cycling Ireland to develop a new national cycle training standard which would ensure a standardised level of cycle training around the country. The new standard Cycle Right  which was launched in January, 2017 will be rolled out during 2017 to as many primary schools as funding allows. I am confident that this new cycle training, which includes an on-road element will result, over time, in an increase in the number of children choosing to cycle to and from school. It is not possible to provide an estimate of children who will continue to cycle to school but it is expected that between 12,000 to 15,000 children will avail of the training in 2017.

Cycling Ireland will administer and manage the Cycle Rightscheme registration and will maintain a web-based public register of qualified and approved Cycle Rightproviders (www.cycleright.ie). My Department has also allocated €350,000 for the purpose of subsidising participating schools for the cost of the training which will also be funded by parental and local authority contributions. I understand that the Road Safety Authority are also contributing significant funding towards this initiative.

The Cycle to Work Scheme is a Department of Finance initiative and so any consideration of a possible expansion of the scheme to school children with tax relief accruing to parents is a matter for that Department.