Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Transport if the recent extra funding provided for the rural transport programme is a once-off extra allocation of funding; if he will carry out an audit of the transport needs of rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9627/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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. In addition, the National Development Plan 2007-2013 — Transforming Ireland, commits some Euro 90 million to the Programme over its full term.

I was delighted to announce recently an additional Euro 2 million for the RTP in 2008, bringing the total allocation for the Programme this year to €11 million. For future years, the specific year-on-year allocations for the RTP will, as is the norm, be determined in the context of the overall annual estimates process each year.

I am satisfied that arising from the review of the Rural Transport Initiative in 2006 that a further review of the programme is not warranted at this stage. My role continues to be one of facilitator, helping local communities to address their transport needs through financial and administrative support, while communities themselves take the lead in identifying their needs and developing co-ordinated transport services to fulfil those needs.