Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the future of the pilot rural transport night time scheme; if he has completed a report on the viability of this scheme; if funding will continue for existing projects in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41597/09]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the pilot schemes for the rural night link have finished; his plans to extend or change the rural night scheme; if same will continue to receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41634/09]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the rural transport project funded by his Department; if he has made a decision on continued funding of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41624/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 67 and 98 together.

The Rural Transport Evening/Night Scheme was implemented in 2007 as a pilot project in seven selected areas, with funding from my Department. This pilot scheme was in addition to of the rural transport services already provided in these seven areas under the Department of Transport's 'Rural Transport Programme'. The pilot arrangement was designed to operate for a limited period only and will cease at end-2009. It was intended to give the rural transport groups involved an opportunity to pilot certain evening/night-time services that, ultimately, could be considered for inclusion in their main transport services.

Having had the experience of piloting such services, the seven groups concerned are now assessing their overall services with a view to the possible inclusion of more evening/night-time transport services. To assist with this, I have arranged for Pobal, which manages both the main Rural Transport Programme and the pilot scheme, to work with the Groups in assessing their services and their experience of the pilot scheme. This work is ongoing and includes making all possible efforts to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the transport service. This will involve prioritising routes, increasing load capacity, re-tendering to operators to seek cheaper quotes where appropriate and focussing more on generating income from passengers. I would like to see the seven groups, and indeed, all other service providers, assess their services to identify how best to meet the transport needs of the rural communities they serve, with the inclusion as necessary of more evening/night-time services in their main rosters.

I understand that some of the rural transport service groups already provide a level of these services and, based on the experiences of the pilot scheme, evening/night-time services can now be further considered. Decisions in this regard are within the remit of the service providers, in their implementation locally of the Rural Transport Programme. Delivery of a quality service to rural communities and, at the same time, ensuring value for money is core to the work of the Rural Transport Programme in the current economic climate.