To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what role her Department would have in the roll-out of an e-bike scheme in a council area, similar to the scheme recently launched in Dublin.

Under the Active Travel Demonstration Projects competition in 2013, my Department provided capital funding to Belfast City Council for the Belfast Bikes bikeshare scheme. The Council undertook responsibility for the development, implementation, operation and maintenance of the scheme. My Department also provided capital funding for the recent upgrade of the Belfast Bikes. I would expect that my Department could continue to have a capital funding role.

If a Council wishes to develop an e-bike scheme for their area, my Department would be willing to consider funding subject to affordability, a satisfactory business case and DoF approval to pay a capital grant.