Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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709. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for healthcare professionals including carers who cannot access or afford private vehicle transport to purchase bicycles and pedicels to travel to work in view of social distancing requirements and the vulnerability of the patients, clients, and family members they work with. [11525/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have no plans to provide to provide funding for the purchase of bicycles and pedicels to travel to work in the manner described by the Deputy. 

However, the Deputy may wish to note that the Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the "Cycle to Work Scheme" a government scheme to encourage people to cycle to work came into force on January 01 2009. Under this scheme, an employer is allowed to incur the expense of providing an employee with a new bicycle and bicycle safety equipment with the employee being liable for benefit-in-kind taxation.

For employees the scheme covers bicycles and accessories up to a maximum cost of €1,000.  The HSE purchases the bike and the employee pays the sum back through a salary deduction over a period of up to 12 months.  The repayment is made before tax and PRSI are applied.