Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policy being pursued by his Department to progress the facilitation of effective modes of rural and inter-urban transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9626/15]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policy being pursued by his Department with regard to the need to progress effective modes of rural transport; his plans to ensure that pick-up, drop-off areas and bus shelters are provided within towns, villages and at other strategic locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9625/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.

I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future, recognising the vital role it plays in our economy and society generally. I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last Budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. I also recently secured €110 million for public transport as part of the 2014 Supplementary Estimate for my Department, which included €45 million for Irish Rail's network renewal investment and €50 million for bus renewal for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

At a national level, the NTA has responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger land transport services. This includes the provision of subvented bus and rail services by Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail. The NTA also licenses commercial bus passenger services. 

The Rural Transport Programme (RTP) was created to address social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. In April 2012 responsibility for managing the RTP was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA). This role for the NTA, coupled with its national remit for securing the provision of public passenger transport services, enables the development of better links between local and rural transport services and scheduled bus and rail services. The Rural Transport Programme entails the provision of around 220,000 services annually and about 1.7m passenger trips.

I have also referred the Deputy’s questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.