Fergus O'Dowd
Question:377 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil and public servants that have signed up for the cycle to work scheme; the cost of the scheme to date in 2010. [7576/10]
View answerTuesday, 9 February 2010
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Written answers
The Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 provided for the introduction of an exemption from income tax in respect of a benefit-in-kind arising from a bicycle or associated safety equipment being supplied by an employer to an employee for the purposes of commuting to work. Since the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme, 23 officers in my Department have applied to avail of this tax exemption. In each case, the bicycles and equipment are purchased by the Department on the officer's behalf and an amount equivalent to the cost is deducted from the officer's salary over the course of one year. There is, therefore, no cost to the Department as a result of its participation in the Scheme.