Public Transport
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-15
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Niamh Smyth (FF), Cavan-Monaghan

I appreciate the sentiment of the Deputy's contribution and I do not disagree with any of it. Particularly when we look at digitalisation and the travel wallet, all of that should be considered. I will re-emphasise to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport to perhaps look at this as a pilot programme.
In considering proposals in respect of all tax expenditures, the Government must be mindful of the public finances and the many demands on the Exchequer. Tax reliefs, no matter how worthwhile in themselves, lead to a narrowing of the tax base and a strong and convincing case for the benefits and outcomes needs to be articulated and due consideration given to the commitment of scarce taxpayer resources for such reliefs. To be fair, the Deputy made that argument strongly.
While the conditionality around the BIK exemption for the tax saver scheme falls under the Tánaiste’s remit as Minister for Finance, the scope and conditions of the travel passes on offer are a matter for the individual transport providers. As with all tax policy measures, the tax saver scheme is kept under review by Department of Finance officials. It is particularly important in considering proposals in respect of tax expenditures that the Government is mindful of the public finances and the many demands on the Exchequer. The expansion of any scheme creates a cost and that cost must be recovered elsewhere. At present, there are no specific plans to amend the tax legislation in respect of the tax saver scheme, which is considered to be operating well.
The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future contains a commitment to, within the lifetime of this Government, conduct a review of the bike-to-work scheme to boost take-up among all workers. The Minister’s Department has engaged with officials in the Department of Transport in recent months in relation to this review and the terms of reference remain under consideration.
I again thank the Deputy and will pass on his heartfelt sentiments to both Ministers in relation to a pilot programme for consideration.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-15