Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the outcome of his Department's review of the night-time rural transport scheme; if the scheme will be extended in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2723/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the rural transport programme; if the programme will continue in its current form; if he will make cutbacks in the programme; the amount of funding that will be allocated to the programme in 2009; the amount of funding to each individual programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 25 together.

In many rural areas there are no public transport services at night. While in the more developed rural areas there may be hackney or taxi services, these are at the discretion of the providers and do not always provide a guaranteed service to rural people.

Against this background in May 2007 I introduced a new evening transport service, on a pilot basis, to allow rural people to fully participate in the community, sporting and social activities that take place in their areas. Thirty-four groups deliver the rural transport programme, which is operated by the Department of Transport, and seven of these are delivering the pilot evening transport service. The pilot scheme is widely used in the areas in which it is in operation. Funding of €665,000 was provided to run the pilot scheme to the end of 2008.

A review of the pilot scheme is under way and it is anticipated that it will be completed in the coming weeks. Decisions regarding the future of the scheme will be made following the completion of the review process. In the interim, additional funding of €150,000 has been pledged to run the scheme for the first quarter of 2009. This funding has been allocated to the seven participating groups as follows:

I think Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, MFG is in Tír Chonaill.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister told me during his last session of parliamentary questions that he would have that report early in January. I hope we have it soon. Has the Minister provided funding in each Department to continue that pilot scheme for the year? It is important that it should continue.

Has the Minister had discussions with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs so that a voucher system can be put in place and people in rural Ireland, who can avail of the free schemes but have no access to the public transport, can use the vouchers for taxis and other forms of transport? Some people in rural areas have got the free schemes, but they cannot use them because they have no access to public transport. The people who can avail of the free schemes should be given the option to avail of public transport or to obtain vouchers to use taxis and so on.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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People with free travel will travel free on this scheme. Therefore, they are not being charged. We have not got the report, but I understand we will have it shortly and we will make it available. We have made money available for January, February and March this year. From what I hear anecdotally, my argument is the opposite. It would appear from what is happening on the night-time scheme that the vast majority of people are travelling for free because they are eligible for free travel. Before we set up this scheme, we were told there was a major problem with people under the age of 66 who tried to go out and socialise, because of the laws on drinking and driving. I wonder whether some of the services were structured correctly to attract a younger clientele that would have paid, which would have made these services more economic and would have allowed us to provide more services for our money.

Many of these services operated on fixed bus routes, with a fixed time and a fixed place and so on. People might be picked up at their houses, but the bus would go to one destination. We should look at the model whereby a hackney could be on a retainer in a fixed geographic area over a fixed time, such between as 7 p.m. on a Friday night and 2 a.m. on a Saturday morning. For a fixed fee, the hackney would always be available to go anywhere in that area. That would attract much more young people to use the service. It would make it more viable and when those who can afford to pay do so it facilitates us in providing more services.

When we get the report, we will make it available. We could then have a debate on it.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Who is carrying out the review of the night time rural transport scheme? What are the terms of reference given to the review group? Why is it that only seven of the 34 groups provided service? Has the Minister any statistical breakdown on usage? I am referring to the percentage of the population, the number of people using the service, the cost per head and so on.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I presume that the information being sought by the Deputy will be in the report. I will watch very carefully for that. I am only going on the anecdotal evidence that I have, but it seems to be mainly older people using the service. That may not be borne out in the report, but I will have to wait and see. All these statistics are being ascertained. I have not got the name of the person or the group carrying out the review, but I will arrange for the person who is carrying out the review to inform the Deputy. I understand that the review is more or less completed, but I do not have the name here.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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What are the new terms of reference?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I approved the terms of reference and I will arrange for them to be sent to the Deputy. I made one amendment to the terms of reference, so I remember them quite clearly. I believe they were adequate for the purpose.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If that scheme was to be extended to the end of this year, will the funding be there for it? This issue is about money. If the Department does not have the money, then an extension of the pilot scheme will not happen.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It could be tempting fate for any Minister to say before Tuesday that he has the funding for anything. We should do the evaluation here. I believe the concept is right. When one compares what is spent by the State on urban transport with rural transport, one finds that the money spent per capita on rural transport is minuscule. Despite the impression that is often given, it costs much less to provide transport to rural Ireland. One could also say that the services are inferior as well.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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One of my findings from the committee report is that Dublin Bus, Luas and so on are costing much more. The schemes in rural Ireland cost only small amounts of money when compared to what is happening in the cities.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is supposed to be asking questions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want to give the Minister some useful information.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am sure he appreciates it.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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A publican in a rural area outside a town in my constituency bought a mini-bus to bring people to and from his premises. When he applied for tax relief against his business, he was refused as he needed a taxi licence. We should provide incentives for people who will provide transport in situations like that. This issue should be kept in mind when the Minister analyses the review.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is a very good idea. We will publish the report, and with the blessing of the committee chairperson and the Deputy, I will come in to the House and debate it. We must try to see if we can extend the services. I would give it a priority if I could prove that I could go further with similar money and serve more people. I am willing to debate creative ideas like that proposed by Deputy O'Shea. I have been told on the ground that the scheme was successful, but if I was doing it again, I would look for more money.