Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
441 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the funds that have been allocated by his Department under the accessible transport scheme in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to allow subsidised accessible transport agencies to operate throughout the country to facilitate the elderly and those living in rural areas not serviced by public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter regarding the continuation of the funds provided. [5035/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor some years now my Department has been funding the pilot rural transport initiative. The RTI is a scheme whereby 34 rural community groups are being financed to operate pilot rural transport services in their areas. Area Development Management Limited administers the initiative on behalf of my Department and the specific allocations for individual RTI projects are made by ADM from funding provided by my Department.
My Department provided ADM with €2.95 million for the RTI in 2002, €3 million for it in 2003 and the allocation for 2004 is €3 million. This compares with the total of €4.4 million originally earmarked for the RTI in the national development plan.
The RTI is now operational in almost all counties. Currently it provides some 2,500 transport services on approximately 380 new rural transport routes with some 20,000 people being carried on its services every month. The free travel scheme of the Department of Social and Family Affairs was extended to the RTI in 2003.
