Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he or his Department will offer assistance to the development of rural transport in areas where public transport does not exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. The vast majority of private contractors providing services under the scheme operate in rural areas.

I am always willing to consider applications from licensed private transport operators who may wish to participate in the free travel scheme. However, while my Department pays transport providers to operate the free travel scheme, it is not in a position to provide transport services where none currently exist or to compel operators to participate in the scheme.

The issue of access to public transport in rural areas is being addressed at present through the Rural Transport Initiative, which is being managed by Pobal, formerly Area Development Management (ADM) on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport. My Department contributed €500,000 to the initiative in 2004, €750,000 in 2005, €850,000 in 2006, and will contribute €1.5 million in 2007 to ensure that free travel passholders continue to have access to community based transport services.

I will continue to review the operation of the free travel scheme with a view to identifying the scope for further improvements as resources permit.