Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:601 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will reverse his decision not to renew the night time rural transport scheme. [28338/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 July 2009
Ceisteanna (601, 602)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:602 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the alternatives which will be made available to elderly and more vulnerable people who will be affected by the decision not to renew the night time rural transport scheme. [28340/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.
The Rural Transport Night Scheme was implemented as a pilot project in seven selected areas in 2007. The Deputy will appreciate that the mainstream provision of transport services, including rural transport, is a matter for my colleague, Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Transport. Accordingly, it was always my intention that my Department's more limited resources could be used to support a pilot initiative, which gave us the opportunity to look at the impact on the ground of an evening and night service.
In the context of the completion of the pilot scheme, I have met with representatives of the 7 pilot groups and with Pobal, who manage both the pilot scheme and the main Rural Transport Programme for the Department of Transport. Following these discussions, it has been agreed that the groups will continue with some evening services until the end of the year, instead of finishing on 10th July.
I have asked that all possible efforts be made to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the transport service, involving increased load capacity, re-tendering to operators to seek cheaper quotes where appropriate and focussing more on generating income from passengers. It is also intended that, by end year, the seven groups, with support from Pobal, will prioritise routes that can be resourced from existing resources, thus sustaining some level of evening services for 2010.