Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 564: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to provide adequate funding for the rural transport initiative (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34226/04]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 565: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding financial support for a bus service (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34293/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 565 together.

The rural transport initiative, RTI, is a pilot project that began in 2002 and was due to finish at the end of 2003. This deadline was initially extended to the end of 2004 and I recently extended it further to the end of 2006. Funding of €3 million was allocated to the RTI for each of the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. I decided that the allocation should be increased this year and €3.45 million is earmarked for the initiative in 2005. This is an increase of 15% over the funding for 2004, or 12% once account is taken of inflationary effects. By the end of this year, more than €12 million will have been provided for the RTI, as compared to the initial sum of €4.4 million earmarked for it in the national development plan.

Area Development Management Limited, ADM, administers the RTI on behalf of my Department and has sole responsibility for making decisions with regard to the specific allocations to RTI groups. Neither I nor my Department have any role in this aspect of the initiative. I understand that the 34 RTI groups have now submitted their business plans to ADM for the period up to the end of 2006. These plans are currently being assessed and decisions will be made by ADM in the coming weeks as regards the specific allocations to the groups.