merrion street

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD today announced an additional allocation of €850,000 from savings in his Department to the Rural Transport Programme in 2016. This brings the total allocation for 2016 to over €14.5m, which is an increase of 20% on 2015.

The Minister also secured a €2.19m increase in funding for the Programme in 2017, which is part of the overall increase of €31m for public transport services in Budget 2017. The allocation for rural transport in 2017 represents an almost 20% increase on the original funding allocation for this year.

Minister Ross commented: “The Programme for Government gives recognition to the value and benefit of rural transport to communities, in particular for older people and those vulnerable to social isolation. The increased level of funding for rural transport for this year and next will enable a continuation of the process already underway of making improvements to existing services and developing new routes.”

“With the additional funding this year, 13 additional services have already been provided in Kerry, Wexford, Leitrim, Roscommon ensuring better connections to and between towns and destinations such as shops, hospitals and community facilities.  The extra funding will allow for further improvement and expansion of services in addition to ensuring the optimal level of integration with other public transport services. At present there are 41 new rural transport services being examined by the NTA across the State with a number of Local Link offices. The planned services also include new town services.”

“I am delighted that the additional funding and initiatives being progressed will build on the good work that has been done for over 10 years by those involved at local level in the provision of rural transport services, to ensure maximum integration with other State funded transport services and by making the Programme a sustainable part of the public transport system.”