Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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48. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21061/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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In the context of COVID-19, the current recommendation is for Civil and Public Servants to continue working from home.

However, my Department continues to support and facilitate the operation of the Cycle to Work Scheme which encourages cycling to work by the provision of tax exemptions and the facilitation of salary deduction for the purchase of bicycles.

In addition, my Department actively promotes and encourages employees to engage with Health and Well-being initiatives including those that support physical activity.

State Agencies, under the remit of my Department, are also in a position to facilitate the Cycle to Work Scheme.  However, with regard to individual initiatives, that would be an operational matter for the Agencies in question.