Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 176: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of grant aid to voluntary transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45414/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I presume the Deputy is referring to the Rural Transport Schemes operated and funded by my Department.

The Rural Transport Night Scheme commenced in mid 2007 on a pilot basis. The groups delivering the Rural Transport Programme, operated by the Department of Transport, deliver the Scheme in the pilot areas and the funding provided by my Department to run the Scheme to December 2008 is €665,000.

In addition the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides resources to maintain and improve local amenities and to generate important social inclusion benefits to community members such as supporting rural transport schemes. A number of implementing bodies who run the RSS on behalf of the Department provide drivers for buses used in the provision of rural transport schemes and their estimated cost for 2008 is approximately €280,000.

For completeness, my Department has provided €1.9 million under the Community Services Programme for community transport in 2008.