Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive insight and answers. I return to my deep concerns about how we will see a dismantling of the service and the voluntary endeavour. Efforts have been made before to co-ordinate all transport requirements in rural Ireland working with the health boards and schools. So much voluntary work goes on with which the witnesses may or may not be familiar. For example, the west Clare mini-marathon, run by a small group of volunteers who take no payment from it, raises €100,000 every year. They provide a localised service transporting people from west Clare to Limerick and Galway for cancer treatment, which works exceptionally well.

There is a huge voluntary effort in terms of fundraising, etc. It does not fall within any programme. I am somewhat concerned that as we start to put in place more regulation and greater structures - as we are doing with the current rural transport programme - it will disassociate the local voluntary community, which feel that, thank God, at last the State is now taking control and will hand it over with a very significant increased cost to the State. In proceeding along these lines the National Transport Authority needs to be mindful of the huge level of voluntary activity that continues and does so much good work. I am concerned that the National Transport Authority is trying to reduce what believes is an administrative cost, but which I believe is an administrative cost associated with the voluntary effort and fundraising providing a huge foundation to the service often through the purchase of the basic equipment required - the vehicles. While the National Transport Authority has done a value-for-money audit, I am not sure it has taken account of all the strands that need to be included and that it will ultimately cost more money to deliver the same service. That is just a comment and I do not expect a response.