Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that he will maintain the level of funding as set out in budget 2009 for the rural transport programme in view of the level of anxiety among passengers on the rural transport network regarding the proposal to abolish the programme in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes; his views on the proposal of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes to abolish the rural transport programme; his further views on a role for the rural transport programme in providing essential transport facilities for rural communities particularly in view of his reported plans to reduce the general blood alcohol limit to 50 mg and to implement other elements of the road safety strategy, including mandatory testing at collisions and the roll-out of the national speed camera programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39739/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There are commitments to the rural transport programme in the national development plan, Towards 2016, and in the Department of Transport's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. The renewed Government programme contains a commitment to explore the provision of a full-scale transport system in rural areas, using the network expertise of Bus Éireann and the resources of the school and health transport systems. The development of rural transport is a key objective of the Government's sustainable travel and transport plan, Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future. The primary objective of my Department's rural transport programme is to address social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. The funding for the programme has increased substantially, from €3 million in 2004 to €11 million this year. The programme operates in all counties and is expected to carry 1.5 million passengers this year. It is an important element of Government policy.

The Government is considering all the recommendations in the special group's report. Decisions will be made by the Government in the context of the budget for 2010 and later years. To assist with that task, the Government has referred the report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service for its views prior to the budget. It is important that existing resources in the rural transport sector are utilised as cost effectively as possible. A number of initiatives are under way in that context.

The potential for improved synergies between existing transport providers - such as the Health Service Executive for health transport, the Department of Education and Science for school transport, Bus Éireann for rural transport, Pobal for rural transport programme services and other transport providers, such as the Irish Wheelchair Association - is being explored. These initiatives involve pilot transport projects in the north east and the north west, an exercise to map all transport services in County Louth and a cross-Border pilot rural community transport project under the auspices of the British-Irish Council. The outcome of these initiatives will feed into the process of developing future rural transport policy.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister appreciates that the rural transport programme provides a wonderful service. It represents the beginning of what could be a real programme of rural transport in this country. As I said the other night, the Government seems to have forgotten that rural dwellers have as much right to public transport services as urban dwellers. The Minister mentioned that 1.5 million journeys will be made under the rural transport programme this year. One of the 36 rural transport programme companies is based in my local area of north Fingal. As almost 750 drivers are employed under the programme, it is an important source of local employment. It should not be forgotten that these companies meet approximately 50% of their costs through their fare boxes.

The rural transport programme is developing its links with Bus Éireann and other local private operators in the interests of providing a more comprehensive system. Would it not be a tragedy if the programme were to be discontinued? When Mr. Colm McCarthy and his group produced their famous report, the Minister said he found many of its recommendations regarding transport "baffling". Did he find Mr. McCarthy's comments on the rural transport programme "baffling"? Can he state definitively that he will not allow it to be destroyed? All parties have debated the Road Traffic Bill 2009. I think the Minister will acknowledge that when I saw his proposals, I rowed in behind them on behalf of the Labour Party, and with the support of my Labour Party colleagues, on the grounds of road safety. Is it not the case that the rural transport network, through the use of "booze buses" and other necessary facilities, has a tremendous role in combatting social exclusion in rural areas? Would it not be appropriate, for a host of reasons, for the Minister to make it clear this evening that he will oppose, by whatever means necessary, any cutbacks in the rural transport programme's budget? I understand that the budget is €8.5 million, rather than over €10 million as suggested by the Minister in his reply.

When the service operators come to see me and the Joint Committee on Transport, as they have done on a number of occasions, they tell us they receive a net allocation of €8.5 million to run the wonderful service throughout the country. I plead with the Minister to leave the rural transport network alone.

Deputy Mattie McGrath and the Minister's other colleagues, who seem to go to war to support the drinks industry, do not seem to tackle the issue of rural transport with the same seriousness and determination. The initiative deserves support.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Broughan is being very unfair because he was not present at our meeting in Athlone, at which this was one of the two major issues raised by the backbenchers of the Fianna Fáil Party-----

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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We did not read anything about it in the papers.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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-----to let me know exactly how important this was.

Nobody in the House needs to lecture a Fianna Fáil Minister on how important the rural transport network is because a Fianna Fáil Government initiated the scheme in 2002. It has increased the money made available to it since then. The initial figure was €3 million and this was increased incrementally to €4.5 million, €5.1 million and €9 million. I increased it further to €11 million. While some groups may talk about net amounts I am sure they do not expect we would ask them to run the service without giving them some money to administer it. If this is what they are suggesting, I will be delighted. I made an extra €1 million available this year and insisted that it be used for services only, not for administration. The gross amount available, taking into account the amounts made available from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the fare box, as the Deputy mentioned, is close to €16 million.

The service is and has been important. The decisions that must be made in the budget will be made in the budget. The Government has given a clear signal as to the importance of the initiative. This was before we proposed to reduce the blood alcohol limit from 80 mg per 100 ml to 50 mg per 100 ml. I freely acknowledge the Deputy's support in this regard.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister refers to the support the Labour Party has given to rural projects. My party, particularly the Leas-Cheann Comhairle when he was in Government, gave a considerable impetus to local community groups that were self-funded. I know this because I took on a role in this regard outside this House. That is why I am so sympathetic to the bodies in question.

With regard to the safety agenda, which is very much linked to the rural transport programme, what is the position on speed cameras? Will they be postponed continually? Will the Minister introduce them in the interest of road safety?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The roll-out of the speed cameras and the signing of the contract are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I ask him about it every day, as he will probably confirm. I am told we are very near the signing of the contract. I will leave it to my colleague to make the actual announcement.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Will it be before the budget?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Very soon.