Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps which he is taking to reinstate rural transport services which have been withdrawn in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19217/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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 groups in County Roscommon, to address local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources. A list of RTP groups is available on the Pobal website at www.pobal.ie.

Funding of €11 million is being provided by my Department for the RTP in 2009, an increase of €1 million on the provision for 2008. My Department has no role in relation to the day to day management of the Programme, including the allocation of specific funds to particular groups or for services.

The bottom-up approach which was developed during the pilot Rural Transport Initiative demonstrated that local communities know best where the transport needs are in their rural areas and how best to address those needs. In line with that approach, RTP groups are, therefore, responsible for deciding on the specific services to be provided and the methods of provision.