Taoiseach Enda Kenny and public transport minister Alan Kelly have announced that events are to take place in four Irish cities in a bid to expand the City-Bike scheme outside Dublin.

Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will host the symposiums as part of efforts to attract private sector backing for the creation of public bicycle hire schemes in each location.

The National Transport Authority will also be involved in the organisation of the events with a view to examine combined funding methods for new schemes in the four cities.

It is currently estimated that establishing the schemes in the cities will be EUR6.4m (£5.5m) and a further EUR23m (£19.7m) in overall operating costs over a 15-year period.

Kenny said: "This government believes that public bike schemes in our other regional cities would enhance the city centres and provide a great boost to the cycling cultures already developing there."

The first symposium will take place at Cork's City Hall today (7 November), with the other three scheduled for 9 November (Waterford); 14 November (Limerick) and 15 November (Galway).

Details: www.transport.ie