Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

When the Minister suggested this originally, there were many sceptics who wondered whether it could work. As a rural Deputy, I see where the private concerns are able to do it and I am fully supportive of moving this initiative forward.

The question is twofold. A recent reply to a parliamentary question to the Minister for Transport stated that the rural transport initiative would cover all counties. How will this initiative tie in with the other one? While I accept that there must be a review to evaluate its success, is the thrust of what the Minister is trying to do that he will align this with the rural transport initiative?

My other concern, while not of the Minister's making, is that in my area the rural transport initiative is coming under question and we are being told that there is a cutback. On the one hand, we have this pilot scheme which is a success, but, on the other, there is a grey area in the successful rural transport initiative regarding the number of areas covered being reduced.

The overall proposal is a winner, but has the Minister been in contact with the Minister for Transport about moving it forward and has he any information from the Department of Transport on proposals to cut back the initiative? Pobail was one of the groups to which funding was made available for the rural transport initiative. Has the Minister any information on even a thought of cutting it back? Although I realise the rural transport initiative is not the responsibility of the Minister, in the overall picture we must tease it out to ensure it is a success in the future.

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