Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
15. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the basis on which the decision was taken to extend the contract for the supply, installation, maintenance and ongoing operation of the public bike share schemes in Cork, Galway and Limerick from April 2019 to May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15167/19]
View answerI have no doubt that the Deputy welcomes the fact we have public bike schemes in most of our major cities, including Galway. These schemes have an important role to play in fostering a cycling culture and providing an alternative, sustainable transport option within the cities. I can also inform the House that there are advanced plans to extend the scheme to Waterford, and I understand the National Transport Authority (NTA) expects to commence rolling out a scheme in that city toward the end of this year.
I recognise of course that investment in schemes such as these requires investment in our cycling infrastructure also. In that regard, as Minister, I have significantly increased the amount of funding available to support the development of improved cycling infrastructure and I know the NTA is working closely with the local authorities in all the main cities to improve cycle lanes and tracks and encourage greater usage of cycling.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the arrangements for the public bike schemes are a matter in which, as Minister, I have no direct role; instead these schemes and decisions about them come within the functions of the National Transport Authority (NTA), and the relevant contract is between the NTA and a particular company.
I am advised that in May 2014, the NTA awarded a contract for the supply, installation, maintenance and on-going operation of Public Bike Share Schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway to a company known as Telfourth Limited.
The term of the contract was for five years, with an option to extend by a further period of up to five years, at the discretion of the NTA. Accordingly, the original contract was due to expire in mid-May 2019.
Obviously a decision in regard to the contract needed to be made well in advance of its expiry in May this year. Key elements of the hardware and software pertaining to bike schemes are specific to different operators, with patents and intellectual property rights applying in many cases. This means sufficient time would be required for any newly contracted party to put in place their own systems, docking stations, kiosks and bikes etc.
The NTA therefore considered the issue of the contract last year and in accordance with the terms of the original contract the NTA approved the extension of the contract with Telfourth Limited for a further five-year period, commencing this May and running until May 2024.
