Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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587. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to re-open the rural transport programme; if he will discuss the direct benefit to the rural economy for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17209/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Rural Transport Programme (RTP) was established to address social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. The RTP entails the provision of some 230,000 services annually and around 1.7m passenger journeys. The Government has committed to maintaining service levels under the Programme.

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 transport passenger services, enables the development of better links between local and rural transport services, and scheduled bus and rail services.

The delivery arrangements for the RTP are undergoing a restructuring process which is being managed by the NTA with a view to reducing administrative costs and maximising spend on the provision of services. The purpose of the restructuring is to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future by ensuring a more efficient delivery structure that maximises integration with other State transport services and by making the Programme a sustainable part of the public transport system. This is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to maintain and extend the RTP with other local transport services and the recommendations of a Value for Money Review of the RTP published in 2012.