Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2009
310 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department is taking part in the cycle to work scheme or plans to do so in the near future; the agencies and bodies under the aegis of her Department taking part in the cycle to work scheme and those which are not; and the impact the implementation of decentralisation will have on participation in the scheme. [34619/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cycle to Work scheme for employees of the Department was introduced in the Department in early September 2009 and is now fully operational. To date, a total of 27 applications have been received and 20 of these have been approved.
The scheme is also in operation in the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman's Office and the Citizens Information Board. The Family Support Agency will be providing staff with an opportunity to participate in the scheme in January 2010. All of these bodies are responsible for the operation of the scheme in respect of their own employees.
Staff employed in the Department's decentralised offices have full access to the scheme. It is not envisaged, therefore, that the decentralisation programme will have any major impact on the level of participation in the scheme.
