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Rural Transport Integration.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2004

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

Ceisteanna (90, 91)

Dan Neville

Ceist:

148 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Transport the reason he has opted to continue the rural transport initiative on a pilot basis; the reason, despite a recent review by ADM, no decision on mainstreaming was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27016/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

352 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the action proposed following the completion of the pilot rural transport initiative; the analysis which has been done; the cost benefit which has been completed; if it can be rolled out nationally; and the cost overall and the cost per trip. [26921/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 352 together.

The NDP makes an overall provision of €4.4 million for the rural transport initiative. The funding available has been increased to €3 million per annum. The decision to extend the rural transport initiative to 2006 follows an appraisal of the initiative, carried out by Fitzpatrick Associates, economic consultants on behalf of ADM. The appraisal was completed in July last and its principal recommendation was that the RTI be extended for a further two years to end-2006. In making this recommendation the consultants noted that, "The commitment of funding to the end of 2006 will provide greater certainty to RTI groups and should improve the overall effectiveness of the Initiative and will give a longer pilot period during which the full lessons of RTI models can emerge." Among other things, the appraisal found that the RTI gives good value for money. While there was a wide variation in cost per trip among the 34 projects, the appraisal found that the average cost per passenger trip was €13.

As suggested by the consultants, I am extending the existing schemes for a further two years to enable the full lessons of the scheme to emerge and to ensure that the lifespan of the RTI will dovetail with the scope of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 where the initiative was first mooted. A further review of the scheme including the implications of mainstreaming it or rolling it out nationally will be undertaken at that time.

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