The scheme will operate for one year and will help determine the need for cross border travel at local community level.
The first step of the pilot project will see transport being provided between Tullyhumman in Donegal and Pettigo in Fermanagh by means of a community social car scheme. Other later services may involve routes from Ballyshannon to Enniskillen and Pettigo to Enniskillen, delivered by a co-ordinated taxi service.
Conor Murphy said: “This pilot will provide cross border transport services. Current research along with work being carried out by services on the ground will help determine the level of need for cross border travel at a community level. The pilot will also identify the advantages of a cross -border rural community transport scheme which will help examine the need for further development."
Noel Dempsey added: “The results of this pilot project will help us to build on the success of the Rural Transport Programme. It will help to clarify where cross-border rural transport needs are greatest so that scarce resources can be directed to the most needy areas. I look forward to further extensions to the pilot project and to reviewing the results after it concludes late in 2009.”
Notes to Editors
1. Following the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Transport Sector meeting on 12 December 2007, officials from both the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Transport in the South have been working together on a project to inform the Departments as to the potential demand for cross border services.
· Terms of Reference have been agreed and the project will:· Identify the potential demand for cross-border rural community transport services.
· Identify the potential costs associated in providing these services.
· Identify the potential barriers, including logistic, legislative and procedural, to the provision of cross-border rural community transport services.
· Identify the potential benefits that could arise from cross-border rural community transport services and suggest ways that these benefits might be enhanced and replicated.
2. The project is being managed by a Project Steering Group, made up of officials from both Departments who have overall responsibility for the project. It is anticipated that a full report from the Project Steering Group will be sent to NSMC after the completion of the “on the ground pilot” which will start in December 2008 and continue for one year.
3. The community-based transport groups that will be involved are Fermanagh & South Tyrone Transport (FAST) in the North and Rural Lift Ltd in the South.
4. The exact cost of the project is as yet unknown. However both Departments have allocated resources to this project with the Department for Transport allocating €200,000 and DRD £150,000.
5. Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, tel: 028 9054 0372
