Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work completed to date in integrating various Government funded agencies such as the Health Service Executive, the Irish Wheelchair Association and others in relation to the provision of public transport, detailing resources provided and barriers to integration identified; and if the National Transport Authority has any target of integration or a timeframe for this. [40196/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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610. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to further integrate charities and community groups struggling with transport needs into transport co-ordination units; and if they will be available to assist these organisations. [40197/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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611. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the National Transport Authority abandoning the community bottom-up ethos of the rural transport programme; the provision there is for the voluntary boards to make choices that fit local needs; if there is no such provision, if he will provide an explanation for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40198/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the impact of the changes to the rural transport programme, such as the transfer of management to the National Transport Authority; and the details of any administrative savings that have been made, or any targeted savings. [40200/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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615. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of work to improve and ensure that the objective of social inclusion remains a primary role of the transport co-ordination units, as it was under the rural transport programme. [40202/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work completed to ensure the high standard of training and health and safety standards remains in the rural transport programme. [40203/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the removal of the procurement function of the rural transport programme from the transport co-ordination units, and its centralisation; and how this will affect the ability of the units to address specific local needs. [40204/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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618. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position and plans of the National Transport Authority to subsume the rural transport programme and the transport co-ordination units into local authority structures; and the rationale for this plan. [40205/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 to 611, inclusive, 613 and 615 to 618, inclusive, together.

I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). Following a Government Decision in January 2012, national responsibility for the integration of local and rural transport services, including management of the RTP, was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1st April 2012.  This includes responsibility for the implementation of the restructuring of the RTP announced in July 2013.

I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.