Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to provide public transport access to Malin Head, where the public service was discontinued in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) launched in February 2007, 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. Older people and people with disabilities form the core customer base of the RTP. Pobal, which administers the Programme on behalf of my Department, 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. As part of that process, seed funding has been provided to the Inishowen Partnership to support them to develop a transport project plan for the Inishowen Peninsula.

The bottom-up approach developed during the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2002-2006) demonstrated the effectiveness of the community and voluntary initiative and involvement in the provision of rural transport services. The RTP is building on that concept and the main drivers of community rural transport continue to be the local communities themselves.