asked the Minister for the Environment the bicycle parking areas currently located in Dublin; and whether he has any proposals to extend this number in view of the many people who use this form of transport.

The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available in my Department. I suggest it might appropriately be obtained from the Dublin local authorities, who are responsible for providing bicycle parking areas. At the same time, I understand that Dublin Corporation have provided 17 such areas on-street, on an experimental basis, in order to gauge demand and effectiveness.

Adequate legal powers exist to provide on-street bicycle parking facilities. The degree of implementation of these as regards particular areas is a matter for decision between individual road authorities and the Garda Commissioner.

Would the Minister be favourably disposed to providing extra money towards the provision of extra areas if an application is made to him?

That is a matter for Dublin Corporation to look into in regard to the total finances that would be allocated from my Department and other moneys available to them.