Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 April 2021
30. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21051/21]
View answerThe Cycle to Work scheme is an action of my Department and Revenue that encourages people to cycle to and from work. Section 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997) provides for this scheme. This scheme provides an exemption from benefit-in-kind where an employer purchases a bicycle and associated safety equipment for an employee. Under section 118B TCA 1997, an employer and employee may also enter into a salary sacrifice arrangement under which the employee agrees to sacrifice part of his or her salary, in exchange for a bicycle and related safety equipment. Where a bicycle or safety equipment is purchased under the Cycle to Work scheme or through a salary sacrifice arrangement, certain conditions must be met. Further guidance regarding the Cycle to Work scheme and salary sacrifice arrangements can be found on Revenue’s website. The Cycle to Work scheme is available to all staff in my Department and is centrally administered for my Department by HR Shared Services.
My Department has a number of facilities to aid staff who actively travel to work. There are dedicated secure bicycle parking facilities across a number of locations and the installation of a dedicated bicycle repair station is currently in progress. My Department also has a dedicated drying room, where staff can dry wet gear. There are a number of shower cubicles in all buildings occupied by my Department, which staff can utilise as required and an increase in the capacity of shower cubicles is currently in progress.
Active travel is not an issue for a number of the 17 bodies under the aegis of my Department, namely the Credit Union Advisory Committee, the Credit Union Restructuring Board, the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal.
The Credit Union Advisory Committee is not a State agency, rather it is a committee set up to advise the Minister for Finance on credit union issues. The Credit Union Restructuring Board was operationally wound down in 2017, having concluded its restructuring work and is awaiting formal dissolution. The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal do not have employees.
The remaining bodies under my Department’s remit have provided the following on how they encourage and facilitate their employees to use active travel to commute to work:
Before moving to its headquarters in North Wall Quay (NWQ), the Central Bank of Ireland published a Smarter Travel Action Plan on its intranet site, aimed at helping staff with the move to the NWQ campus and encouraging a shift to sustainable travel modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. The welcome pack to the new building, shared in advance of the move, highlighted all public transport options in the near vicinity and estimated times to walk from public transport stations and stops. The Bank is also considering a post-pandemic travel survey for all staff. The Central Bank provides secure bicycle spaces, showers, changing rooms and drying rooms across its city centre campus to support/encourage staff to walk, run and cycle to work. These end of journey facilities, which include a bike maintenance station provide staff with the means to commute to work in a comfortable manner. Similar facilities are provided at the Bank’s premises in Sandyford. In addition to the Bank’s dedicated bicycle parking facilities, a Dublin Bike park is located close to the NWQ premises. The Bank’s Facilities Management team meets regularly with a staff cycling liaison group to discuss any issues, and ensure provision of safe, secure and efficient facilities. The Bank also advertises the Cycle to Work scheme for staff twice per year. In conjunction with other organisations in the area and independently, the Bank has been in regular communication with the National Transport Authority to review transport options in the NWQ district.
The Investor Compensation Company shares a premises with the Central Bank and all staff are seconded from the Bank. As such, any facilities provided by the Bank or measures taken by the Bank to encourage active travel, as set out above, also apply to the Investor Compensation Company.
Staff in the Credit Review Office are seconded from Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland (EI) is a body under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and as such EI is responsible for any measures taken to encourage and facilitate staff in the Credit Review Office to use active travel to commute to work.
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has a large number of bicycle parking facilities and can easily facilitate those who bike to work. The Office also has changing rooms and showers at its premises, to facilitate those who use active travel to commute to work.
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council includes information on the Cycle to Work scheme in its employee handbook/HR manual. A large number of employees have availed of this scheme since beginning their employment with the Council.
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman encourages employees to commute to work using active travel by promoting the Cycle to Work scheme and making facilities available for staff who cycle to work. On the implementation of its Return to Work plan, it will encourage active travel, both in the context of overall employee wellbeing and the potential impact on passenger numbers on public transport.
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) are State Boards under my Department’s remit. The NTMA provides business, facilities and support services to NAMA, HBFI and the SBCI, and operates the Cycle to Work Scheme to encourage employees to use active travel to commute to work. The NTMA’s Treasury Dock building has various facilities to encourage walkers, runners and cyclists such as bicycle parking spaces, changing rooms and drying rooms for wet gear.
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners has in place an active employee wellbeing framework that includes encouragement to employees to remain active to support their wellbeing. Revenue supports cycling to work via the government Cycle to Work scheme. Having regard to the current Covid-19 health restrictions, some 80% of Revenue staff are working from home. Those staff who are attending the workplace are advised to avoid the use of public transport and to walk or cycle to work where possible.
The Tax Appeals Commission has been actively promoting the Cycle to Work scheme for its staff and secure bicycle racks are available to meet the needs of staff.
