Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
758. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made on establishing a bike rental scheme in Galway similar to the successful scheme in Dublin which is about to expand. [22929/13]
View answerWork is well advanced within my Department and the National Transport Authority on proposals to introduce bike share schemes to certain regional cities including Galway. The National Transport Authority anticipates initiating, within the next few months, a tender process to procure a company to supply, install, operate and maintain the Regional Cities Bike Schemes. It is hoped that this contract can be awarded before the end of the year with construction to commence early in 2014.
Funding provision to meet the capital investment costs of the roll-out of public bikes in other cities has been identified within the five year capital funding allocation for Smarter Travel and Carbon Reduction Measures. However, operational funding is not available from within the constrained current funding allocation. The delivery of the scheme to regional cities is contingent on the success of the ongoing process to explore the potential for a sponsorship contract to defray some of the costs associated with the Regional Cities Bike Schemes.
