Teachers in Irish schools who have not yet joined the government's Bike to Work initiative have been told they will have to wait until next year at the earliest.

Minister for education Mary Coughlan announced today (July 7th) that the programme is being suspended while the organisers deal with other pressing issues such as teacher retirements.

Although it has not been scrapped altogether, no more applications for Bike to Work will now be processed until further notice, RTE News reports.

Ms Coughlan said the initiative will be more flexible when it reopens.

Bike to Work allows people to purchase bikes and other cycling equipment tax-free.

It was launched as part of the government's bid to ensure ten per cent of all journeys in Ireland are undertaken on bicycles by 2020. Currently, only four per cent of commuters in Dublin travel by bike.

Some 913 Irish teachers and other school staff have joined the initiative so far.

Written by Donal Walsh

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