Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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943. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the possibility of increasing the budget for the rural transport programme by 10% has been investigated; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45838/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The total allocation in 2018 to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP), which now operates under the "Local Link" brand, is almost €15 million.

This is the confirmed RTP allocation for this year, and any percentage increases over whatever timeframe, using whatever basis, may be calculated from it. However, as I have previously advised the House, I would caution that whatever calculations the Deputy might use, such figures would only be speculative.  Future funding levels for the programme will be subject to the annual Estimate and Budgetary processes.

I would also like to point out that funding of €4.5m to meet the cost of the introduction of new regular rural services into the Local Link network has been allocated from the Public Service Obligation (PSO)budget, bringing the total funding for Local Link services this year to €19.5m which represents a significant increase on the 2017 RTP allocation of €14.4m. This significantly increased funding for Local Link services will continue in 2019.