Minister Foley Ensures Cycling Inclusion in Co Kerry

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland were delighted to be joined by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley recently, as we visited Tralee in The Kingdom of Kerry to hand over bikes for families with additional needs.

As part of Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme, which is supported by Minister Foley and her Department colleague Minister Hildegarde Naughton, and the team at the HSE, Minister Foley presented bikes to members of Down Syndrome, Kerry. These bikes ensure that children with additional needs can be included in cycling activities with other family members.
While presenting the bikes to the families, Minister Foley reaffirmed the importance of the impact that The Recycle Mobility Programme is having for both the children with additional needs and other family members. Minister Foley said “Isn’t it a joy to see inclusion at it’s very best. Family inclusion, social inclusion and children with additional needs having access to special mobility bikes so they can be included in cycling activities with other family members and groups. Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme is providing hundreds of special mobility trikes to children with mobility issues right across the county which is fantastic. These bikes not only support inclusion, but contribute to improved mental and physical well-being of both the child and other family members.”

In Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme Impact Report & Evaluation Study 2024, conducted by The Royal College of Surgeons Dublin (RCSI), results show that our Recycle Mobility Programme, which supplies special mobility trikes to children with disabilities, can improve the mental and physical wellbeing of both the child, family members by up to 87.5%. To ensure fully sustainability, once a child out grows their trike, it is then passed onto other special schools so children there can have access to safe cycling.

In line with the Government’s National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, The Recycle Mobility Programme sees The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, The Department of Transport and the HSE working cross departments to ensure equal access to cycling for people with mobility issues.

Thanks to the continued support of Minister Foley and her government partners at The Department of Transport and the HSE, The Recycle Mobility Programme continues to support inclusion and equal access to cycling for children with mobility issues across Ireland where families can access financial support towards the cost of special mobility trikes.