Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in relation to the rural transport initiative for night time rural buses; if he will expand this service to more areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21021/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the various spokespersons on their appointments. I look forward to working with them and Question Time being a useful way of debating on the floor of the House issues of major national importance.

As Deputy Ring is aware, there are no public transport services in many rural areas at night. While such services are available in the more developed rural areas, by either hackney or taxi services, these are at the discretion of the providers and do not provide a guaranteed service for rural people. It was against this background, therefore, that earlier this year I introduced a new evening transport service on a pilot basis to allow rural people to fully participate in community, sports and social activities taking place in their areas. The new scheme also aims to address the current market failure in this area.

The 34 groups delivering the rural transport programme operated by the Department of Transport were invited by Pobal to submit applications for consideration under the new scheme. Following the appraisal of the proposals submitted, seven groups were selected to run the pilot scheme, namely, West Cork Rural Transport, Avondhu Development Group in east Cork, Meath Accessible-Kilnaleck Community Cavan, County Sligo Leader Partnership, Tumna Shannon Development Company Roscommon, Síob Teoranta Donegal and, Laois Trip. The projects were selected having regard to such criteria as evidence of need, strength of proposal, capacity of the group, value for money and geographical spread.

The budget for the pilot scheme is €500,000. The first service commenced in June and service and passenger numbers are expected to increase throughout the autumn. Although only in the early stages, I understand the services are being very well received by communities and passengers alike. Early indications are that older people, people with a disability and young people are particularly enthusiastic about the new services and new activities are being planned around their availability.

All services focus on maximising the general community good. I am conscious of the need to ensure no displacement takes place of commercially viable existing services as a result of the introduction of the new scheme. My intention is that the pilot scheme will be reviewed after a year and decisions in relation to its future will be informed by the outcome of the evaluation.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has said there is no night time service in many rural areas. There is, in fact, no day service in many rural areas. I welcome this initiative. The Government gave an election commitment that this issue would receive priority if it was returned to office.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is engaged in discussions with the HSE. We have a serious problem in that there is no public transport service in many parts of rural Ireland. The Government is focused on bringing services to the regions. However, many people, some in receipt of social welfare payments of only €189 or €200 per week, are unable to attend hospital appointments because of a lack of transport. They are given appointments in hospitals in Galway and north Mayo, some 140 miles away. They would be required to spend their total social welfare payment on a taxi to attend these appointments.

I have a meeting tomorrow with representatives of the HSE from which I received a letter last week stating it was engaged in discussions on the issue with the Minister and his Department. Perhaps he will outline for us what is happening. Can he assure the people concerned that he will put in place transport services to bring them to hospital appointments? A case is before the Ombudsman of a woman in serious ill-health who has not taken up a hospital appointment in a full year.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, progress has been slow. I was a little taken aback when the HSE stated my Department and I were engaged in discussions with it. I have discussed the matter with a senior executive of the HSE and a local transport group in an effort to identify how best we can bring together, in a co-ordinated fashion, the critical mass of the rural transport initiative and the requirement to bring people to hospital. If this can be done, we will get better value for money.

I have tried to pursue the issue with the HSE which has an allocation to provide this type of ambulance service. We could provide a much more extensive service if this was linked to a joint bidding system through the rural transport initiative. We are involved in a cohesive process, including Leader and partnership companies. This is about providing cohesive, comprehensive services; it is not about structures, but about people. We must examine their needs, including for patient transport which is vital.

I concur with the Deputy's remarks on this issue. I was appalled to learn that people from Inishturk and Clare Island who do not have cars on the mainland were being told once they arrived on the mainland that they had to walk or take a taxi to hospital. While I am working on the issue, progress has been slow. I appreciate the Deputy's support for my efforts. I would be interested to hear his view on whether this is the best way to approach the matter.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to hear the Minister's response. I know he is committed to rural Ireland. I do not mind who provides the service. I will have a meeting with officials from the HSE tomorrow. Some believe it is important to have vehicles equipped with the best of mobile phones and seats to transport them around the country, while others awaiting major heart surgery, some in receipt of social welfare payments of €189 or €200 per week, do not have transport to take them to hospital. I do not mind whether the service is provided under the rural transport scheme or by the HSE. If the HSE cannot do it, I will support the Minister and his Department in their efforts to provide a service. The HSE should not remove the existing service until a new one is in place. I am asking that the Minister discuss the matter with the HSE to ensure patients will obtain transport to take up hospital appointments.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My sentiments exactly. The HSE cut the service to the limit, leaving many in my constituency and others without a service. I approached the HSE about this matter a considerable time ago and the officials said they were sticking to their statement that they could only provide a limited service. I pointed out that I am always amazed that the HSE can make cutbacks but the amount saved is only a drop in the ocean compared to its total budget. I asked them to consider, as an alternative way of approaching this issue, giving the money to the existing providers so that money is not wasted on bureaucracy. In other words, another bureaucracy should not be set up. We have an existing structure and, therefore, no money should be expended on bureaucracy. I asked them to consider providing a lump sum in return for services and allow the providers to tender out the services as part of their own. The officials said they would consider it but they have not returned with proposals. I am pursuing the issue and the Deputy can rest assured that I will try to progress this in the way we have discussed.