Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 687: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the rural transport initiative scheme will assist old age pensioners with taxi costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14720/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I believe there is a need in rural Ireland for an evening transport service to allow rural people to fully participate in the various activities — community, sporting and social — that take place in their areas and to address the market failure that currently exists.

What I have in mind is that the new scheme will be additional to the existing Rural Transport Programme (RTP), run by the Department of Transport, and that a small number of areas will be selected to run it, over a 12 month pilot period. In this context, the 34 groups currently delivering the RTP were invited to submit applications to be considered under the new scheme and 22 of the groups subsequently applied. I hope to make an announcement on the half dozen or so pilot areas to be selected in the next week or two.

All passengers will be charged to travel on the proposed service to ensure its cost effectiveness — other than holders of free passes, such as old age pensioners.