Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which his Department has become involved or intends to become involved in rural transport initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32550/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his consultations with other Departments on the rural transport initiative; the outcome of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he proposes to assist rural transport initiatives in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32832/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 187 and 197 together.

As the Deputies are aware, in many rural areas, there are no public transport services at night. While there are, in the more developed rural areas, either hackney or taxi services, these are at the discretion of the providers of these services and do not provide a guaranteed service to rural people.

It was against this background, therefore, that earlier this year — following a number of discussions between officials in my Department and the Department of Transport — I introduced a new evening transport service, on a pilot basis. The aim of the service is to allow rural people to fully participate in the various activities — community, sporting and social — that take place in their areas. The new Scheme also aims to address the market failure that currently exists in this area.

The 34 groups currently delivering the Rural Transport Programme — operated by the Department of Transport — were invited by Pobal to submit applications to be considered under my Department's new scheme. Following the appraisal of the proposals submitted, seven groups were selected to run the pilot Scheme, namely:

West Cork Rural Transport;

Avondhu Development Group in East Cork;

Meath Accessible/Kilnaleck Community Cavan;

County Sligo LEADER Partnership;

Tumna Shannon Development Company Roscommon;

Síob Teoranta Donegal; and

Laois Trip.

The seven projects were selected having regard to such criteria as:

evidence of need;

strength of their proposal;

capacity of the group;

value for money; and

geographical spread.

The budget for the pilot is €500,000. The first service commenced in June and service numbers and passenger numbers have increased throughout the Autumn. Although only in the early stages yet, I understand that the services are being very well received by communities and passengers alike. In this context, the Deputies should note that during the month of October, there were 154 services with 1,341 passenger journeys.

Early indications are that older people, people with a disability and young people are particularly enthusiastic about the new services and new activities are being planned around the availability of services.

All services focus on maximising the general community good and I am, of course, conscious of the need to ensure that no displacement takes place of commercially viable existing services as a result of the introduction of the new scheme.

My intention is that the pilot Scheme will be reviewed after a year and decisions in relation to its future will be informed by the outcome of the evaluation.