Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 574: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the results of the rural transport initiative operating in south Kildare; the number of passengers using the facility since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29244/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The rural transport initiative, RTI, is a pilot programme that provides funding up to the end of 2006 for 34 rural community organisations to address the public transport needs of their areas through the provision of local transport services.

Area Development Management Limited, ADM, administers the RTI on behalf of my Department. ADM and the individual RTI project groups are solely responsible for all operational aspects of the initiative at project level. Neither my Department nor I have a role in such matters.

While I have no specific information on south Kildare, I can tell the Deputy that an overall national appraisal of the RTI in 2004 found that it represented good value for money. It also found that, under it, over 300,000 passenger trips had been provided in 2003, with usage growing substantially during the course of 2004, and that 16,000 rural residents were benefiting from the programme.

The appraisal found clear evidence of an improved quality of life for those availing of the services in that it promotes independent living, with improvements to the well-being and health of users.

It makes a daily difference to the lives of thousands of citizens who otherwise would not have access to transport. Earlier this year I announced that, at the end of the pilot phase of the initiative in 2006, the RTI will be put on a permanent footing in 2007.