Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider extending the three year bike pilot initiative for the provision of high-quality upcycled bicycles and e-bikes for those on low incomes and or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged to Limerick city given it is the only large city not included in the pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45543/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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On 28 April, my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, launched a three year pilot initiative for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes, for those on low incomes and or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged.

Funding of up to €3m is being provided by the Department of Transport for this initiative over a three year period and will be made available through my Department's Community Services Programme, which is administered by Pobal.

The application process for this call closed on 28th May last. The Department received fourteen applications, with five applicants approved for support under this pilot initiative.

Organisations that were eligible to apply were those currently supported under the Community Services Programme or, alternatively, those in a Partnership/Consortium of which at least one member is currently a CSP supported organisation. While one application was received from a Limerick-based organisation, unfortunately, this applicant failed to meet the required eligibility criteria for the pilot.

Progress on the roll-out of this pilot initiative will be kept under review.