Tony Gregory
Question:588 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason for the termination of the Omnilink bus service for pupils with disabilities; and when this service will be restored. [1148/96]
Written Answers. - Termination of Bus Service.
Seamus Brennan
Question:591 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the shortfall in funding the Omnilink bus service under the EU Horizon Initiative in the period May to December 1995; if the approved allocation of £592,000 was to include 65 per cent of the capital costs and the £200,000 allocation was to meet the loss on the running costs; if the full grant in accordance with the rules was paid but that the project was incorrectly costed under the rules; if the actual loss on a reduced scheme was £100,000 which was underwritten by Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 591 together.
Omnilink is the name given to an experimental wheelchair-accessible minibus service for the general public operated by Bus Átha Cliath on the basis of a contractual agreement with the Inter-Department Transport Accessibility Committee which is chaired by my Department.
The project was originally intended to provide a service on Route 103 between Clontarf and Finglas over a two year period at a total estimated cost of £1.3 million. It was supported by the committee solely on the basis of a notification that its application for grant assistance amounting to £592,000 in respect of the project under the EU Horizon Programme had been approved. As the pilot scheme was expected to be uneconomic, this figure include a proposed contribution of approximately £200,000 per annum to meet anticipated operating losses over a two-year period. Unfortunately, unavoidable delays in securing the specialised vehicles required for the service meant that it was not possible to introduce the facility during the currency of the Horizon Programme which closed at the end of 1994. Furthermore, the committee was advised at a very late stage that, in any event, the operating costs of the project would not be eligible for EU assistance under the programme. Consequently the level of EU assistance actually received (£210,000) represented only 36 per cent of the amount originally envisaged.
In the circumstances, it was not possible to proceed with the experiment as originally planned. However, Bus Átha Cliath agreed to operate with effect from 28 May 1995 a six-month trial of the Omnilink concept in the city centre, linking the wheelchair-accessible DART system at Tara Street with the O'Connell Street and St. Stephen's Green areas (Route 222). I understand that operating losses of approximately £100,000 on this route were absorbed by the company during the six-month experiment which came to an end on 31 December last.
The interdepartmental committee will quickly evaluate the Route 222 experiment and consider whether, and in what form, there is a future role for Omnilink as a means of serving the needs of mobility impaired people in the city.