609. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons that availed of and the costs incurred by her Department regarding the cycle to work scheme since it was introduced to date by year and cost in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9977/20]

The Cycle-to-Work scheme was launched by the Government in 2009 to encourage the use of bicycles to travel to and from work. The scheme allows for a civil or public service employer to incur the expense of providing an officer with a bicycle and bicycle safety equipment up to a limit of €1,000, without the officer being liable for benefit-in-kind taxation. Under a salary sacrifice arrangement, a staff member agrees to forego or sacrifice part of salary every pay period (weekly/fortnightly), in order to cover the cost of the bike and equipment provided. The salary sacrifice arrangement must be completed within a maximum period of twelve months. The tax exemption can only be availed of once in any five year period.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in 2011. The Cycle-to-Work scheme has operated there since 2013 and the information requested is provided as follows: