Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost per annum for each of the years 2003 to 2007 of the rural transport initiative; the number of passengers carried in each of these five years under the RTI service with a county breakdown of RTI services in operation in each of these five years; the distance in kilometres in total in each of these five years RTI the bus services cover; the amount of fuel in litres per 100 km RTI bus services used in each of these five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43370/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provided Euro 3.0 million in each of the years 2003 and 2004, Euro 4.5 million in 2005 and Euro 5.1 million in 2006 for the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2002-2006). Euro 9.0 million was provided in 2007 for the new Rural Transport Programme (RTP).

Pobal, which administers the RTP on behalf of my Department, is currently working with 37 individual rural community transport groups around the country to expand the programme on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources. I understand that most of the services are provided for the RTP groups are by private transport operators and that many of the services operate across county boundaries. The transport modes utilised by the individual RTP groups vary in accordance with the needs that they are trying to address and can include mini-buses, taxis and private cars.

The following table indicates the number of RTI/RTP services provided and passenger journeys recorded for each of the years 2003-2007.

Information relating to kilometres travelled or the amount of fuel in litres per 100 km is not currently recorded for the RTP. I have asked Pobal to maximise efficiency and effectiveness with regard to all expenditure incurred under the Programme and to ensure that the available funding is concentrated as much as possible on the provision of transport services rather than administration.