At a special event held today in Stormont grounds, local community transport operators arrived to meet the Minister in the buses that they use in their local communities. Speaking at the event the Minister said: “I welcome the opportunity to be associated with Community Transport Week, which showcases the work that the community transport sector carries out in order to meet the transport needs of socially excluded people in local communities.
“Community transport helps to promote social inclusion by improving or providing transport opportunities for people with reduced mobility in rural areas. I would like to congratulate the community transport sector on what they have achieved in recent years and the real difference that they are making in people's lives.”
The event was organised by the Community Transport Association (CTA), which is the national body for the community transport sector and is the biggest provider of training, advice and information on accessible, voluntary and community transport provision.
Community Transport Week 2007 runs from 17 – 21September 2007.
Notes to Editors:
- Community transport in rural areas is provided by 19 Rural Community Transport Partnerships, who receive funding from the Department under the Rural Transport Fund Programme (RTF). The prime objective of the fund is to promote social inclusion by improving or providing transport opportunities for people with reduced mobility in rural areas.
- The current level of funding to provide rural community transport is £2.75million.
- The Community Transport Association (CTA) is the UK’s biggest provider of training, advice and information on accessible, voluntary and community transport provision and has been at the forefront of promoting minibus safety for more than a decade.
- Media queries to: Michaela Smyth or Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Tel 028 9054 0887. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
