Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the future of the rural transport night time scheme in 2010; the funding available to support this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47109/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the rural transport project funded by him; if a decision has been made regarding continued funding of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47043/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 45 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 the rural transport services already provided in the 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 have been assessing their overall services with a view to the possible inclusion of more evening/night-time transport services. In this regard, Pobal, which manages both the Rural Transport Programme and the pilot scheme, has been working with the Groups over the past few months. This work includes making all possible efforts to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the transport service. It involves 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. In this regard, I am pleased to note that the provision available to my colleague, Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Transport, for the Rural Transport Programme is being maintained at €11 million for 2010. I believe that delivery of a quality service to rural communities while, at the same time, ensuring value for money will be core to the work of the Rural Transport Programme in the current economic climate.