John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The aim, therefore, is to strengthen the rural transport programme, RTP, by ensuring a more efficient delivery structure and by maximising integration with other State transport services. It is the ambition of the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, to make the programme a sustainable part of the public transport system.

Developments initiated by the Minister of State since his appointment have been aimed at ensuring that in future we will have a more complete and cost-effective transport service offered in rural areas which better meets the transport needs of all users. To this end, national responsibility for local and rural transport services integration, including the RTP, was assigned to the National Transport Authority, NTA, with effect from 1 April 2012, putting such services in a broader transport context. The national integrated road transport 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. This was in recognition of the scope for and the desirability of achieving greater levels of transport integration and co-ordination delivery across a range of Exchequer-funded local and rural transport services such as schools and HSE transport services.

I acknowledge the good work already being done by the RTP groups in respect of integration. Significant progress has been made with considerable engagement by the local RTP groups with State agencies which provide transport, for example, Bus Éireann and HSE services. The majority of the RTP groups have services which link with mainstream public transport services, bus stops and train stations. Some 26 RTP groups are now providing services to the HSE throughout the country and I know from my experience in Sligo that this operates very effectively and that it is a fantastic service. Some 16 RTP groups are providing services to schools and preschools. In addition, the RTP groups are now providing services for other organs of the State including Rehab, the National Learning Network, Cara, the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, Enable Ireland, Cheshire Homes and the Centre for Independent Living.

The Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, is therefore perfectly aware of the valuable work done by the RTP groups such as CART in ensuring that the transport needs of local communities are being identified and delivered within the available resources. However, given that resources are limited and that the value for money and policy review of the RTP groups published last year recommended organisational restructuring - which I agree with - to achieve efficiencies and the establishment of a better alignment within the groups and local authorities, it is necessary that the current delivery mechanism and structures are examined and revised. In conclusion in this regard the current structures of RTP groups are not sustainable if the required efficiencies and savings are to be achieved. If these are not achieved then given the limited resources available, services will decline and no one is keen to see that happen.

It is about working on the ground. Work has been under way during the past six months to determine the optimal structure for the delivery of rural transport from an efficiency and service perspective. This has involved consultations 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 structures with the local authority structure as part of this process, the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, received a comprehensive submission from the Rural Transport Network setting out the vision for a restructured RTP based on a more sustainable model of transport for rural areas and building on the integration work to date. Taking on board the views of the Rural Transport Network and others, the Minister of State will ensure that any future structure for the rural transport programme will be based on community input, local flexibility and involving the voluntary sector. By its nature, rural transport is community-based and this will remain under any new structure.

I emphasise that no decision has been taken. The Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, is awaiting proposals from the NTA following the conclusion of its deliberations and discussions. He hopes to be in a position to recommend a new structure in the near future which will allow for the maximisation of spend and services and the reduction of administration costs. While I understand and fully appreciate that this creates a level of uncertainty for the RTP groups, I hope the outcome will be a better service delivered more efficiently. The Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, will be working with all involved in the coming months to make any transition as smooth as possible.