Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

1298 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Transport if, in line with the Government White Paper. Supporting Voluntary Activity, he has appointed a voluntary activity unit responsible for his Department's co-operation with voluntary and community organisations; if so, the unit's personnel, activities and work to date; if not, the reason therefore; and the personnel in his Department responsible for co-operation with voluntary and community organisations. [16736/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

My Department has very limited involvement in funding voluntary and community sector activity.

There is only one such scheme, the rural transport initiative, RTI, which is currently funded by the Department but it is administered by Area Development Management, ADM, on behalf of the Department. The purpose of the RTI is to promote the development of innovative, community-based pilot public transport projects in rural areas. It was not deemed necessary, considering my Department's limited involvement in this area, to establish a dedicated voluntary activity unit.