Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21053/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a number of initiatives in place to encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work. Such initiatives include:

Cycle-to-work scheme:

The Cycle-to-work scheme (generally known as the Bike to Work Scheme) is a tax incentive scheme to encourage staff to cycle to work and is in operation in my Department since 2009.

Travel pass scheme:

The travel pass scheme for public transport is also available to Department staff. The Scheme allows staff to purchase an annual travel pass for bus, dart, train or luas by tax free salary deductions.

Business travel policy:

My Department's policy in relation to the claiming of travel and subsistence expenses specifies that all travel should be by the shortest practicable routes and by the cheapest practicable mode of transport. Officers are encouraged to use public transport whenever practicable, with private transport to be used only in limited circumstances.

In addition, my Department promotes the annual European Mobility week which each year focuses on a particular topic related to Sustainable Mobility. The Department also supports the 'car free day' by encouraging staff who regularly drive to leave their cars at home.

The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

Note 1 – In regard to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) as the IRC operates under the auspices of the HEA. Mr Mellett will address Oireachtas queries for both the HEA and IRC. Please use and respectively to contact Mr Mellett.