Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to provide public transport to serve isolated rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27000/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's Rural Transport Programme (RTP), thirty-four community transport groups around the country are being funded to address social exclusion in their rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs.

The new Programme, administered by Pobal, is building on the success of the former Rural Transport Initiative (2000-2006) by putting that pilot scheme on a permanent mainstreamed basis with significantly increased funding.

Pobal has commenced a process to extend the RTP on a phased basis with a goal of achieving nation-wide coverage in due course in line with Government policy.

The Government's continued commitment to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) is reflected in Towards 2016 which includes phased increases in the annual RTP allocation over time to about Euro 18 million. The National Development Plan 2007-2013 — Transforming Ireland, commits some Euro 90 million to the Rural Transport Programme over its full term.

Some Euro 9 million is being provided for the RTP in 2007 which it is envisaged will lead to an increase in the frequency of existing services, extended coverage, and additional groups of customers accessing rural transport.