Concern as rural transport pilot ends

RURAL isolation will be heightened by a government decision not to renew funding for a night-time transport scheme, it has been claimed.

Irish Rural Link was responding to a government decision not to renew funding for the €500,000 pilot in seven areas.

For the past year, groups have operated the night-time service in east and west Cork, Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Laois.

But they have now been informed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs that funding for the service will expire on July 10 and will not be renewed.

Minister Éamon O Cuív said it was always intended the funding would be on a pilot basis and would, cease in due course.

Pobal, which administers the scheme on the department’s behalf, will meet with the seven groups before the end of June.

It will discuss with the groups how the evening services they operate might be incorporated into the National Rural Transport Programme operated by the Department of Transport.

Mr O Cuív said funding for the overall rural transport programme has increased in the last few years from € 5million to €9m per annum.

Irish Rural Link, which is campaigning for sustainable rural communities, said it was disappointed the budget supporting evening rural transport services will cease from next month.

Chief executive Seamus Boland said this is part of the “salami slicing” of rural transport which sees local communities lose vital services.

“An evening transport service allows rural people to fully participate in the various activities – community, sporting and social – that take place in their areas and to address the market failure that currently exists.

“Thankfully, the daytime service remains unaffected but if rural transport companies wish to continue evening services they will have to find the money in their already stretched budgets,” he said.

Mr Boland said public transport needs of rural people are not being reflected in government policy.

Earlier this year, Bus Éireann proved that when it wants to make savings rural and regional routes are the first to be hit, he claimed.

Mr Boland said there is a need to develop a national sustainable rural transport policy that would ensure that any service that existed would meet people’s needs.

“Rural transport is a public good and therefore ifexamined purely from a private cost basis will always be uneconomic,” he said.

Mr Boland said social benefits arising from better public transport provision in rural areas include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, social inclusion and rural development opportunities.

“Rural transport is vital for jobs but also it is required to ensure that those at risk of social exclusion in rural areas have access to essential facilities and public services.

“If rural areas are to be sustainable, public transport provision needs to be greatly increased,” he said.