Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to Flexibus in an area (details supplied) under the rural transport programme in 2007 and 2008; the funding allocated in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/09]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide a commitment to prioritising funding for Flexibus and other rural transport initiatives in view of their positive contribution to the lives of many people living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4717/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.

Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department and is working with 37 individual rural transport groups around the country, including Flexibus, to expand it on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources.

Euro 10 million was allocated for the RTP in 2008, up from Euro 9 million in 2007. Euro 11 million has been allocated for the Programme in 2009.

Pobal makes specific funding allocations to the individual RTP groups from funding provided by my Department. Neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to the day to day management of the Programme including allocating funds to particular groups or for services.

I understand from Pobal that Flexibus received funding of Euro 299,164 in 2007 and Euro 327,765 in 2008. The allocation for 2009 will be in the region of Euro 350,000.