Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding will be provided from his Department in 2010 to enable a project (details supplied) in County Laois to continue in 2010. [4530/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The group referred to by the Deputy was one of seven organisations funded under a pilot Rural Transport Evening/Night-time Scheme, supported by my Department, which ceased at the end of 2009. All the groups involved also manage rural transport services in their local areas as part of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) funded by the Department of Transport. While funding for the pilot project has now ceased, it is important to note that funding under the RTP for 2010 has been retained at the same level as last year.

There is now an opportunity for the seven groups, and indeed all the providers of services under the RTP, to assess their services for the possible inclusion of more evening transport services. It is my understanding that some groups already provide some level of evening services and I would urge all service providers to respond to the needs of their local communities in making such services available.