The Cycle to Work Scheme was initially launched by the Government in January 2009. Naturally, the main initiative behind the scheme is to encourage people to cycle to work.  The initiative is encouraging cycling to work to promote both health and environmental benefits.

How the cycle-to-work scheme works

The scheme works on the basis that employers are allowed to incur the expense of providing a new bicycle for their employee along with bicycle safety equipment. The scheme will cover bicycles and safety accessories up to a maximum cost of €1,000. The employee is not liable for any benefit in kind taxation. Employees can use a salary sacrifice arrangement as a means to pay for their bike. Employees signed up to the scheme will pay the sum back through a salary deduction over a period of up to 12 months. You can save up to 52% of the retail price of bike and equipment. Your employer also makes 10.75% savings on their PRSI to encourage the scheme. So for a bike costing €600, an employee on the higher rate will save €312 and their employer will save €64.50 in PRSI. For more information on the scheme, speak to HR personnel in your organisation, or see Revenue.ie.

The 10 Minute Cycle Challenge

The 10 Minute Cycle Challenge is a fun, free event to encourage both new and experienced cyclists around the island of Ireland to get on their bikes for three weeks in June. The Challenge is open to Partners of  Smarter Travel Workplaces, a National Transport Authority programme, and Travelwise Northern Ireland.

How does it work?

Teams of 3-6 cyclists compete against each other to do as many 10 minute trips by bike as they can over the course of the event, with the aim of winning prizes and topping the national, or their own workplace’s leaderboard! Every team must have a ‘new cyclist’ – someone who hasn’t cycled in the previous six months. For more information on the 2013 event, see 10 Minute Cycle Challenge.

Cycling is one of the best exercises for burning calories. It is non weight bearing, muscle strengthening and can also raise the metabolic rate up to four hours after exercise. So, why not get involved in the cycle to work scheme or get your workplace involved in Smarter Travel Workplaces?

The post Cycle to Work Scheme & Cycle Challenge 2013 appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

Today, May 16th 2013 Transport For Ireland, on behalf of the National Transport Authority, launched the new www.luascrosscity.ie website.  The new website provides information and updates to the public about the newLuas project.

What is Luas Cross City?

Dublin’s Transport system is about to change. Construction will soon commence on Luas Cross City, Dublin’s new light rail link. The construction will link the two existing Luas lines. The Luas Cross City will run from St. Stephen’s Green through the city centre and connect to the Cabra railway line and travel the entire way to Broombridge.

About www.luascrosscity.ie

The new website will help to deliver vital information to commuters, customers and tourists throughout the project. The new site will be a forum for the public to share their queries and concerns and information will be given as required.

Check out www.luascrosscity.ie to find out more and for any information you need during construction.

The post New Luas Cross City Website appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

The following services only are currently operating:

Expressway Inter-city

Route 1
Dublin-Belfast No Bus Éireann services operating. Translink services are operating. Translink services are at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 EX Dublin. Services Ex Dublin will operate from Custom House Quay.

Route 30
1500 Donegal-Dublin will operate
1700 Donegal-Dublin will operate

Route 33
Dublin-Derry no Bus Éireann services operating. Translink services are operating. Translink services are at 10:00, 13:00, 17:300 and 22:00. Services from Dublin will operate from Custom House Quay.

GOBE – Dublin Airport-Cork
All services expected to operate with services operating from Dublin city centre will pick up at Georges Quay.

Services operating in North-West
Table 492 –
0730 Dungloe/Glenties/Ardaghey/Donegal
1745 Donegal/Killybegs/Ardara/Glenties/Maas/Lettermacaward/Dungloe
2145 Donegal/Killybegs/Ardara/Glenties/Maas/Lettermacaward/Dungloe

Table 492 and 30 -
1520 Dungloe/Donegal/Dublin.
1345 Glencolmbcille/Killybegs/Donegal/Dublin.
2100 Dublin/Donegal/Glenties

Bus Eireann apologises for any inconvenience caused due to this industrial action.
Sunday, 12th May, 2013

Bus Eireann, a Limited Company Registered in Ireland at Broadstone., Dublin 7  No. 119570
Bus Eireann, Cuideachta Theoranta Claraithe in Eirinn ag Cloch Leathan, Baile Atha Cliath
T +353 1 8366111 F +353 1 6771350

Einfo@buseireann.ie

W www.buseireann.ie

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Transport for Ireland on behalf of the National Transport Authority today announced that Wexford Bus is the first private commercial bus operator in Ireland that will introduce Leap Card payments to their services. Passengers on Wexford Bus will now benefit from the initiative by enjoying discounted single trips or loading weekly tickets to their card. This will include journeys to Dublin City and Dublin Airport from Wexford and return.

The National Transport Authority is also trialing the Leap Card system on other similar commercial bus operator services in a bid to expand the use of the Leap Card for the ease and convenience of commuters.

The post Private Wexford Bus Operator Introduces Leap Card appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

This is the second tender competition that the Authority has run for the provision of this bus service that is essentially socially necessary but financially unviable. A Public Service Obligation payment (PSO) has therefore been made available by the NTA to support this service,  Route 828,  Both the service pattern and fares will remain the same as under the original contract. Look here for more information on the timetable for the Johnstown- Portlaoise service.

The post Johnstown-Portlaoise bus route 828 now supported by NTA subsidy appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

23/04/13

The Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards are currently calling for entrants. This is the ninth year of the annual awards which celebrates voluntary groups in the Greater Dublin Area and their work. The initiative aims to support to develop new projects, grow services and help raise community spirit in local areas.

To date, over 1,300 voluntary groups have benefited from funding from the Dublin Bus scheme. Voluntary groups who work in the following areas are eligible to apply: Children and Youth, Sport, People with Disabilities, Older People, Environment and Local Community and Education.

Any group that is located where Dublin Bus operates its services is eligible to applyPrizes awarded include grant sums of  €5,000, €2,000 or €1,000 to the winning voluntary groups. Applications for the awards are now open. 

The post Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards – apply by June 7 appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

17/04/13

 The National Transport Authority has launched a new initiative to encourage third level students to walk to college and reduce their reliance on private cars as their means of travel. At a seminar addressed by Minister Alan Kelly, TD, delegates from universities and colleges throughout Ireland heard of the success of the NTA’s Smarter Travel Workplace programme. Speakers from universities who have successfully implemented Smarter Travel Campus features included  the ACT Travelwise-award-winner University of East Anglia, as well as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Loughborough University, UK – with each institution outlining their successes promoting walking, cycling, public transport and carsharing as alternatives to the car on the commute to campus.

The post “Smarter Travel Campus” programme will support alternatives to car travel to and through colleges appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

10/04/13A new entrance to Pearse Street station, bringing people directly from Pearse Street through the Trinity Bio Sciences Building was officially opened today by  Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar. The project on average employed 50 contract and project management staff for the duration of the project and in total provided employment for 120 contractors throughout the project.

Pearse Station is Irish Rail’s busiest commuter station with 7 million passenger journeys through the station in 2012.  The station is used by DART, Maynooth and Northern Commuter services as well as Rosslare Intercity services.

The post New Entrance to Pearse Street Station opened by Minister Varadkar appeared first on Transport for Ireland.

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