Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 675: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on rural transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14102/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Programme for Government 2011 recognises the importance of the rural transport network as being "vital for rural communities as a reliable and sustainable transport service" and includes a commitment to "maintain and extend the Rural Transport Programme with other local transport services as much as is practicable".

Following a recent Government Decision, I announced plans on 28th February 2012 to achieve greater levels of transport integration and co-ordinated delivery across a range of exchequer funded local and rural transport services incorporating the RTP, HSE non-acute transport, school transport and voluntary transport initiatives.

A key element of the Government decision was that the National Transport Authority (NTA) would assume a national role for integrated local and rural transport and is this regard is taking over responsibility for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). The NTA will also develop proposals for future integrated local and rural transport services based on a series of pilots, which will trial how integrated local and rural transport services can operate and how savings can be achieved across various transport services.

I am also establishing a high level committee of key stakeholders to oversee the initiative and this will be chaired by the NTA.

My Department has provided €9.77 million for the support of the RTP nationally, for 2012 and thirty five community transport groups around the country are currently being funded under the RTP. By co-ordinating resources across a number of areas, I firmly believe the transport service offering in rural areas can be further enhanced and optimised, whilst achieving necessary efficiencies.

Developing a more integrated and effective rural transport programme is now a priority for Government.