Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the 2019 budget allocation to the rural transport programme and Local Link; and the estimated first and full-year cost of a 15% increase on a straight line basis for each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [27057/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The total allocation in 2019 to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP), which now operates under the "Local Link" brand, is €20.935 million. This includes €6m for rural regular services funded from Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding.

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 Deputy, 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.