Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 23 September 2014, if he has any objection to a new transport co-ordination unit from operating two offices in a region with a large Gaeltacht area and one of the largest counties in the country; if this objective can be achieved within the €25,000 threshold as set down by the National Transport Authority. [36805/14]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Responsibility for the management of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP), was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1st April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementing the restructuring of the RTP announced on 9th July 2013.

My main role in relation to the RTP is policy oversight in relation to setting the broad objectives and ensuring coherence with wider Government policies for rural development.

The purpose of the restructuring is to protect the future provision of rural transport services through a more efficient and effective delivery structure that maximises integration with other State funded transport services and by making the Programme a sustainable part of the public transport system.

The new delivery structure for rural transport services involves the establishment of 18 Transport Coordination Units (TCUs) in place of the 35 RTP groups currently delivering the services in order to reduce administrative costs and maximise spending on the provision of services.

I have forwarded your question to the NTA for the purposes of a further response to you in this matter. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.