Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Rural Transport Programme

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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1597. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional funds that were provided to the National Transport Authority for the rural transport scheme in 2014; the areas where these funds were allocated to, as there was no increase in transport services provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30766/15]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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1598. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the total Rural Transport Programme budgets from his Department, in terms of the amount to delivery of rural transport services, the amount to delivery administration for rural transport groups and companies, the amount to Pobal for administration including PMS 1, the amount to the National Transport Authority, including intelligent transport management systems, redundancies, TUPE, accessible upgrading of fleet owning group vehicles and NTA administration costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30767/15]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1597 and 1598 together.

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 and the allocation of funding to the 17 Transport Coordination Units (TCUs). 

Despite the overall expenditure constraints the funding for rural transport was maintained in 2015 at the underlying level for 2014 of €9.746m. This is slightly lower than the overall 2014 provision for current expenditure of €10,396m which included €650k in funding to meet once-off costs related to programme restructuring. A further €300,000 is to be made available this year to meet the cost of additional RTP services as part of the replacement services for the withdrawn Bus Éireann Expressway commercial services.

I have forwarded your questions to the NTA for further response to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

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