Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2013
26. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the reduced funding allocated to the rural transport programme for 2014 will result in reduced services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47161/13]
View answer50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding intentions for the rural transport programme into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47179/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 50 together.
The budget allocation for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) in 2014 is €9.446 million which includes €950k in Community Service Programme funding that is being transferred from the Department of Social Protection Vote. The 2013 RTP allocation is €9.633 million including a one-off provision of €500k for restructuring.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for implementing the restructuring programme.
The purpose of the restructuring of the RTP is to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future. The new model for the delivery of rural transport services involving the establishment of 18 Transport Coordination Units in place of the existing 35 RTP Groups, will allow for the maximising of spend on services and the reduction of administration costs, thereby ensuring that the resources available are dedicated to the greatest extent possible to the provision of transport services to those in rural communities who need them.
I am advised by the NTA that during the restructuring of the RTP, its priority is to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of existing RTP services. In this regard the NTA's focus is to move the existing RTP services into contracted services with the NTA, whether directly with the operators, or with the fleet owning groups. At the same time the NTA will examine existing contracted services to ensure that they are meeting current demands. Based on the current funding available, the NTA has no plans to modify or reduce specific services.
