Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government commits to maintaining and extending the rural transport programme with other local transport services in as much as that is practicable.

The Government recognises that this programme, which was launched in 2007 following a pilot project between 2002 and 2007, can play a major role in combatting rural isolation and enhancing the mobility, accessibility and community participation of local people, particularly those at risk of social exclusion. This year, ¤9.1333 million is being allocated to the rural transport programme corresponding to some 93% of the 2012 allocation. This represents only a small decrease at a time when very difficult decisions have had to be taken to curtail or postpone other programmes. Given the limited resources, it is imperative that we deliver the rural transport programme in an efficient and effective way so as to achieve maximum value for the funding while providing a better service to users.

At present, 35 community transport groups around the country are being funded under the programme of which Kerry Community Transport Limited is one. I am advised that Kerry Community Transport Limited carried 145,970 passengers in 2012 and covered over 95 towns and villages. In the period 2003-12 the company has carried 992,964 passengers. Kerry Community Transport Limited has been allocated ¤574,859 rural transport programme funding in 2013.

I am well aware of the very valuable work done on the ground by these groups in ensuring that the transport needs of their local community are being identified and delivered within available resources.

However, given the limited resources and the recommendations of the value-for-money and policy review of the RTP published last year, it is essential that the current delivery mechanisms and structures are examined and revised.

In particular, the VFM review recommended organisational restructuring of the RTP to achieve greater programme efficiencies and beneficial economies of scale. The review also recommended that better alignment be established between the 35 RTP groups and local authorities.

Against this background, in January 2012 the Government approved new arrangements for the development and implementation of integrated local and rural transport services. These new arrangements are aimed at eliminating service duplication, better targeting of services at those with greatest need and the rationalisation of administrative structures relating to service planning.

The National Transport Authority, NTA, has been assigned national responsibility for local and rural transport services integration, including the rural transport programme, effective from 1 April 2012, putting such services in a broader transport context. The NTA is working to implement the recommendations of the VFM review.

A new high-level committee, the national integrated rural transport, NIRT, committee was established in April 2012, comprising key stakeholders and chaired by the NTA, to oversee and manage a partnership approach to implementing integrated local and rural transport in order to achieve greater synergies, better meet identified transport needs and deliver increased value for money for the Exchequer. I expect the committee to present a number of projects to me over the coming months which will test the level of integration that can be achieved across school, RTP and health services. The NTA is currently working with the committee to identify suitable projects.

I should acknowledge that integration measures are already being undertaken by various RTP groups. A recent survey conducted by the NTA showed that 28 RTP groups are involved at some level in working groups for integrated transport. In total, there are 23 working groups in place around the country, of which 19 could be deemed "active working groups". As a result, some very valuable groundwork is already being done to raise awareness of transport integration opportunities, to establish working relationships with key stakeholders at local level and in a number of cases, to advance integration projects towards implementation of services on the ground.

In relation to the revised organisational structures, work is under way to determine the optimal structure for the delivery of rural transport from an efficiency and service perspective. Discussions are taking place with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the County and City Managers Association and the Rural Transport Network in the context of aligning the new structure with the local authority structure. Any revised structure must be devised having regard to current policy on the public service, including employment and pay policy. I am hopeful that agreement on the revised structure will be achieved in the second half of this year.

I must be clear, however, that the current structures of the RTP are not sustainable if the required efficiencies and savings are to be achieved. If these are not achieved, then with the limited resources available, services will decline. I do not want this to be the outcome.

Pending agreement on the revised structure, the contracts of RTF groups, including the Kerry Community Transport Limited contract, have been extended until end June 2013, with an option to roll the contracts over for a further six months if the restructuring programme has not commenced. While I can understand and fully appreciate that this creates a level of uncertainty for RTF groups, I am hopeful that the outcome will be a better service delivered more efficiently. I will work with all involved over the coming months to make any transition as smooth as possible.

Rural transport is a critical component of public transport services that is vital for the development of a fully inclusive society from both a social and economic perspective. I assure the Senator of my personal commitment to the continuation of appropriate local transport services to those in need in rural areas, while achieving the best value for money for the Exchequer through more efficient delivery structures and integrated services.