Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Funding for the rural transport programme, RTP, was €10.62 million, €9.79 million and €9.74 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, and has been €8.85 million to date in 2014. Total expenditure for 2014 is expected to be approximately €11.3 million, including one-off expenditures linked to the restructuring of the programme. Passenger journeys were 1.74 million, 1.73 million, 1.74 million and 1.14 million in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to the end of August 2014, respectively. The total numbers for 2014 are expected to be approximately 1.63 million. I will arrange for the National Transport Authority to send a breakdown of these figures on a county basis to the Deputy.

The Deputy will be aware that the RTP currently is being restructured in order to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future. The restructuring involves the establishment of 18 transport co-ordination units in place of the existing 35 RTP groups that have provided the service up to now, to reduce administrative costs and to maximise spending on the provision of services. Responsibility for management of the RTP was assigned to the National Transport Authority with effect from 1 April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementing the restructuring of the programme. I have referred the Deputy's question relating to an update on the establishment of the transport co-ordination units to the NTA for direct reply and I ask him to advise my office if he does not receive that reply within ten working days.

The Deputy should note that the rural transport programme is a high priority for me because of the area for which I now am responsible. I understand the difficulties and challenges that face people in rural Ireland, particularly those to whom the Deputy referred. It is very much a priority for me.

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