Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and location of community and rural transport schemes currently supported by his Department; his proposals to further development in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided funding under the Rural Development Fund for a pilot night-time rural transport scheme in seven areas of operation around the country. The scheme is being implemented by local development companies and community groups, namely West Cork Rural Transport, Avondhu Development Group (East Cork), Meath Accessible/Kilnaleck Community (Cavan), County Sligo Leader Partnership, Tumna Shannon Development Company (Roscommon), Síob Teoranta (Donegal) and Laois Trip. While current funding arrangements for the pilot scheme will shortly conclude I am open to considering whether alternative funding sources may be viable and in this regard I propose to meet with the relevant groups next week.

Under the Community Services Programme, my Department provides a contribution to the wages of employees engaged in the provision of rural transport services throughout the country. Funding is currently provided to projects in counties Cavan, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Mayo and Meath. It is my intention to continue to support these projects until the expiry of their current individual contracts, at which stage all contracts will be reviewed. As with all expenditure, applications for funding are considered in the light of available resources.