Filenews 6 September 2022
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces the start of the submission of applications for the revised Grant Scheme for the purchase of a bicycle for the period 2022 – 2023. The application period is from 06/09/2022 at 11:00 a.m. until 21/09/2022 at 10:00 a.m. Applications should be submitted online to the www.podilato.gov.cy while pre-approvals will be given through the electronic draw process in a live broadcast.
The budget of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works includes a total provision of €200,000 for the year 2022, and the Ministry's goal is for the year 2022 to provide sponsorships for 900 new non-electric bicycles and 25 types of bicycles for people with disabilities.
It is recalled that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Finance, set socio-economic criteria for targeting the plan to citizens who have less financial capacity to buy a bicycle. Based on a decision of the Council of Ministers, the beneficiaries for the purchase of a new bicycle are determined on the basis of the following socio-economic criteria:
i. Beneficiaries of the guaranteed minimum income provided by the Welfare Benefits Management Service of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
ii. Recipients of the public assistance provided by the Social Welfare Services of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
iii. The recipients of the benefit to pensioners with low incomes provided by the Welfare Benefits Management Service of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and has the meaning assigned to this term in accordance with the Scheme for the Support of Pensioners with Low Incomes, as amended or replaced in accordance with the respective Decisions of the Council of Ministers.
iv. Family Units with dependent children as defined in the Child Benefit Legislation of 2002 (Law 167 (I) /2002):
- who have one (1) dependent child and have annual gross gross incomes up to € 19,500 and receive child benefit.
- who have two (2) dependent children and have annual gross gross incomes up to € 39,000 and receive child benefit.
- who have dependent three (3) or more children and have annual gross incomes up to € 49,000 and receive child benefit.
For the purchase of a bicycle type for people with disabilities, it is reminded that the beneficiaries are the holders of a European Disability Card or present a certificate from the Evaluation Committee of the Department of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities. It is also noted that the types of bicycles with disabilities should be bicycles that mitigate any form of deficiency or disadvantage of the disabled person and concern:
- Tricycle bicycles,
- Double bike-tandem,
- Chiralata,
- Wheelchair transport bike.
Any types of bicycles with disabilities that are not described above will need approval from the Sustainable Mobility Branch of the Department of Public Works of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, which the applicant must provide before the end of the application period.
The amount of the purchase subsidy for city, road and mountain bikes will continue to be €200 (incl. VAT) or the actual purchase price of the bicycle, whichever of the two amounts is the smallest, provided that the purchase cost will not exceed €1,000 (vat). For the types of bicycles for people with disabilities, the subsidy amount will be €800 (incl. VAT) or the actual purchase price of the bicycle, whichever of the two amounts is the smallest, provided that the purchase cost will not exceed €4,000 (incl. VAT).
Cypriot nationals, citizens of a Member State of the European Union and citizens of third countries, aged 18 and over, who reside permanently in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and meet the above criteria, have the right to submit an application.
Finally, it is noted that applicants who have taken advantage of the Bicycle Grant Scheme for the period 2021 and have received a grant, will be automatically excluded from the application system for 2022 and 2023.
