Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason the rural transport programme is being abolished; if his attention has been drawn to the valuable service it provides to many elderly people living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31671/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Transport if there are plans to enhance the rural transport scheme as administered through development agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31205/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps he will take to protect rural transport services in view of the recent publication by the Central Statistics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31380/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 528, 564 and 567 together.

As you are aware, the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan T.D., established a Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, under the chairmanship of Mr. Colm McCarthy, to examine the current expenditure programmes in each Government Department and to make recommendations for reducing public service numbers so as to ensure a return to sustainable public finances. In July 2009, the Minister for Finance received the Special Group's report and brought it to Government, and the Report was published in full. Among other things, the report recommends the abolition of the Rural Transport Programme.

The Government will be reflecting on the Report's recommendations over the months ahead. Decisions on implementation will rest with the Government and Dáil Éireann, including in the context of preparing the Budget for 2010 and later years. The Government has referred the Report for analysis and comment by the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and General Affairs prior to the Budget in December.