Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1431 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will take into consideration the vast experience, expertise, skills and passion for transport solutions of the Kerry forum for integrated transport when assessing County Kerry’s application to be included as a pilot area under the national integrated rural transport committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/12]
View answerOn foot of a recent Government Decision the National Transport Authority (NTA) has been assigned national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport services. A further development arising from the Government Decision is that I have established a high level committee, the National Integrated Rural Transport Committee (NIRTC), to oversee the future integration of local and rural transport. Membership of the NIRTC is drawn from organisations representing key stakeholders in local and rural transport including rural transport groups, Bus Éireann, HSE, Pobal and local authorities, as well as policy makers from the relevant Government Departments. The Committee is chaired by the NTA. The first meeting of the new Committee took place on 4th April 2012. At that meeting Committee members were requested to submit proposals to the NTA by 20 April in relation to possible pilot areas for developing local and rural transport integration. The NTA will review these submissions and will submit recommendations for my approval. The approved model projects will be overseen by the NIRTC.
