Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report on contact he or his officials have had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with his officials regarding amending legislation to allow for bicycle storage facilities in the front of terraced homes without having to obtain planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37836/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government's commitment to increasing the number of people choosing sustainable transport modes over private car use is reflected in the significant increase in investment in recent years, particularly in the areas of walking and cycling. As well as improving and expanding the infrastructure network and increasing the delivery capacity of behavioural change programmes such as Smarter Travel, Green Schools Travel and CycleRight training, it is equally as important to work to remove barriers to Active Travel, where possible.

Many of these barriers fall outside the remit of my Department, including certain potential tax measures which could be introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to combat financial barriers to cycling, or the issue of bike storage at the front of residential properties which, as pointed out by the Deputy, falls under the remit of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Officials from my Department are in regular contact with other Government Departments in relation to various cross-Departmental issues. My officials have been in correspondence with the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as recently as last month in relation to the aforementioned issue of bike storage. While supportive of any potential change to planning regulations to allow for bike storage at the front of residential properties, this correspondence highlighted various transport-related issues which would have to be considered by the parent Department ahead of any regulatory changes, including issues which might arise if storage was placed in front of terraced houses.

This is an ongoing matter which is as yet at an early stage. The Departments of Transport and Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to liaise in relation to same, as it progresses.