Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
799. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give renewed consideration to the difficulties being experienced by an organisation (details supplied) in its delivery of rural transport under the proposed amalgamation of rural transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7803/14]
View answerFollowing a Government Decision in January 2012, management of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1st April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementation of the restructuring of the RTP announced by me on 9th July 2013. The purpose of the restructuring of the RTP is to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future.
The new RTP structure involves the establishment of 18 Transport Co-ordination Units (TCUs) in place of the existing 35 RTP Groups currently delivering the service. The appraisal process of the applications submitted in response to the Call for Applications from existing RTP Groups for the selection of the TCUs was conducted during the months of December 2013 and January 2014. That process, which was managed by the NTA, has concluded and all applicants have been informed of the outcome of the selection process.
The NTA has offered debriefing meetings to all unsuccessful applicants who requested one. I am advised by the NTA that the organisation that you have referred to, and which was successful in one of two applications submitted by it, has not sought a debriefing meeting. However, should they wish to arrange such a meeting, if they contact my office, I will ensure that one is arranged for them.
The NTA is currently scheduling meetings with the successful applicants to initiate the process to establish the TCUs.
