Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

A Vision for Public Transport: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Department is continuously looking at ways of saving money on management and on other things. There is a challenge in that regard but I constantly look at savings in management. I will ask my Department to look at it again, so I can respond to the Deputy in more detail in the near future.

Deputy O'Keeffe addressed the school bus issue and the rural transport programme, RTP. The purpose of the restructuring of the RTP is to protect the provision of the rural transport service into the future by ensuring a more efficient delivery structure that maximises integration with other State transport services and by making the programme a sustainable part of the public transport system. The Department of Social Protection currently provides funding of €1.5 million annually to the RTP under the free travel pass scheme. This level of funding does not meet the cost to the RTP of free travel pass passengers using the services. I am committed to this programme. It is really important that these types of communities should be looked after. If the Deputy has any routes or areas in mind or specific complaints, I ask him to contact me about them. The subsidy there is only approximately €14 million but the Department is totally committed to it. It is relatively new but I believe it is working reasonably well. If the Deputy is specifically concerned about something, he should contact me.

Deputy Fitzpatrick asked about detailed plans. First, well done in the football yesterday. I will be at the next game. If the Deputy wishes to have more detail, we can provide it to him. Today, I was asked to provide a long-term vision and to discuss the subvention, which I have provided. I can provide the Deputy with a great deal more detail at any stage but this is a short meeting and detail-----

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