Martin Ferris
Ceist:575 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in the development of localised bus services for rural areas. [19710/02]
Written Answers. - Rural Transport Initiative.
Martin Ferris
Ceist:576 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Transport the progress which has been made to date in developing a rural transport initiative as promised in the programme for Government. [19711/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together.
The rural transport initiative was launched by my predecessor in 2001, following a nation-wide consultation process. The main purpose of the RTI, which is due to run until end 2003, is to promote the development of a range of innovative pilot community based public transport projects in rural areas. It is being managed and monitored by Area Development Management Limited on behalf of my Department and to date eight community transport groups have received funding for transport operations. Projects from a further 17 groups have just been assessed by ADM for operational funding and these projects are expected to proceed shortly in a number of counties. Some €3 million will be spent on the initiative this year and a similar amount in 2003.
Furthermore, I understand that in the past number of years Bus Éireann has introduced some 40 new rural bus services on an experimental basis in co-operation with local rural community development groups. These schemes, I am informed, involve the provision of a bus service one day a week linking villages and townlands with a county town or other large town.
The report of an interdepartmental committee, established in 2001 under the chairmanship of my Department with the remit of bringing forward options for the development of rural public transport policy, is now nearing completion. I understand the report will take account of a recent national survey of public transport services and needs in rural areas. I expect to be presented with the committee's findings before the end of the year.