Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on rural transport provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12849/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision for the rural Transport Programme in 2010 is being maintained at €11m, reflecting the Government's continued commitment to the programme, which plays an important role in combating social exclusion in rural Ireland.

The development of rural transport is also a key objective in the Government's sustainable travel and transport plan, "Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future" and in my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005.

On rural transport generally, I have made the point in the House previously that it is important that existing resources in this area are utilised as cost-effectively as possible. In that context a number of initiatives are currently underway in the country exploring the potential for improved synergies between existing transport providers, which include the Health Service Executive for health transport, the Department of Education and Science for school transport, Bus Éireann, Pobal for Rural Transport Programme services and other transport providers, such as the Irish Wheelchair Association.

These initiatives involve pilot transport projects in the North East and North West, an exercise to map all transport services in County Louth and a cross-border pilot rural community transport project under the auspices of the British/Irish Council. The outcome of these initiatives, as well as recent reports from the Citizens Information Board and the Joint Committee on Arts Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the matter, will feed into the process for developing rural transport policy into the future.

The Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 introduces a modern framework for public transport services, including rural public transport services.