Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the request from a charity (details supplied) for co-funding to be made available to its recycle mobility programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46228/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In 2021 I was delighted to allocate funding towards the pilot programme of Variety Ireland's Recycle Mobility Campaign. My Department along with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), co-funded this pilot programme and I attended the launch of same along with Minister Anne Rabbitte in July last year.

This worthwhile programme provided special mobility trikes to children with mobility issues, giving young people access to outdoor cycling activities with their families, leading to physical, mental and social benefits for these children.

A unique aspect of this Programme is that when a child has outgrown their trike, it is passed back to Variety Ireland who can then provide it to another child, making the campaign environmentally friendly and fully sustainable.

The pilot programme was subject to a study by Dr Jolanta Burke of the Royal College of Surgeons, and her findings have shown a very positive effect on children's mental and physical health as well as the entire family's wellbeing.

In terms of future funding for this programme, we await the outcome of our budgetary negotiations to assess scope for provision of same. However given the obvious benefits of such a programme as I have outlined, my Department would be happy to further engage with Variety Ireland and DCEDIY to explore potential funding for the scheme going forward.