Rural Transport Program Nationally

RURAL TRANSPORT connecting RURAL IRELAND

Kerry Community Transport Ltd - "Your Community Bus"

Contact Details of 36 RTP Companies

The Rural Transport Programme (RTP) was officially launched in 2006 following a pilot action research initiative (i.e. the Rural Transport Initiative 2003 – 2006).  The RTP was initiated as a response to the growing acknowledgement of the economic and social impacts of inadequate transport in rural areas and the increasing level of interest amongst community and local development groups in developing and implementing locally based solutions. Pobal administers the RTP on behalf of the Department of Transport.

The Rural Transport Network was formed in March 2009.  The Network is made up of representatives of the 36 Companies delivering the Rural Transport Programme Ireland.  The role of the Rural Transport Network is to establish an Independent voice for the ongoing development and mainstreaming of Rural Transport in Ireland  www.ruraltransportnetwork.ie

Mission statement

The programme mission statement is ‘to provide a quality nationwide community based public transport system in rural Ireland which responds to local needs'.

The Programme Aims & Objectives:

To provide, enhance and sustain a nationwide community based public transport system in rural areas.
To maximise existing transport assets and to utilise new technology where necessary in the co-ordination and development of transport.
To act as a catalyst in providing models of partnership at all levels where key sectors actively engage in transport provision.
To ensure equality of access for all, including older people as well as people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments.
To maintain, promote and develop models of good practice.
To continue to contribute to rural public transport policy.

The RTP Delivery:

The transport provided in the RTP is quite different to conventional public transport. The following are some of the unique features of the Programme:

The Programme is delivered nationally through 37 community based groups, all of which are either not-for profit companies limited by guarantee or co-operatives.
There is a bottom up approach to service development i.e. the RTP works with local communities to plan and deliver flexible transport services that meet the needs of the community, including those who experience social exclusion.
75% (2008) of all journeys are delivered on a door-to-door basis, collecting people from their homes and assisting them to their destination.
All journeys tend to be local in nature, with an average distance of about 15 miles.
RTP services are open to everyone and people with a Free Travel Pass may travel free of charge.
The needs and welfare of passengers are central to service delivery. This might involve helping older people with their shopping, assisting mobility impaired passengers to access vehicles, or even calling on the homes of people who may have missed their routine trips due to illness.
A range of transport models have been developed within the Programme utilising a variety of transport modes.
More information together with RTP Newsletters, Case Studies on the RTP can be found at the links below:

http://www.pobal.ie/Funding%20Programmes/RTP/Pages/Background.aspx

Reports published pertaining to Rural Transport Programme

2006 Fitzpatrick Associates Report ‘Progressing Rural Public Transport in Ireland'

Pobal manages the RTP on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Pobal Supports
A range of measures support the development of the RTP and the dissemination of information and good practice. These included:

Project supports: Pobal staff adopt a proactive approach to supporting the 37 participating Groups. Regional networking meetings and training takes place in a range of locations, to support groups in organisational and operational matters. One to one support is available to all groups and ongoing financial support and training is also provided.

RTP Consultative Committees: Two consultative committees (i.e. Policy and Mainstreaming Committee and Operational Matters Committee) help to guide the strategic implementation of the Programme. These committees are made up of representatives from RTP Boards of Management and staff. The purpose of the Policy and Mainstreaming Committee is to examine and advise on policy issues and inform the future development of the programme within the context of the new Transport Framework and the National Development Plan. The purpose of the Operational Matters Committee is to examine, advise and develop a number of operational procedures, which impact on the effectiveness of the Programme.

RTP Systems: Pobal has also worked with RTP Groups in establishing a number of systems to enhance the implementation of the programme. These include the development of a Performance Monitoring Strategy for the Programme; Tendering Guidelines for the RTP groups; development of a Health and Safety Management System; Manual Handling supports; and investigation into the development of a Geographical Information System for the RTP.

RTP Research: Pobal, with the assistance of RTP Groups, carries out and has been involved in various pieces of research to assist the development of the Programme. Recently, the RTP undertook a piece of research on the "Development of a Transport Accessibility Index" to assess transport deprivation in rural Ireland and thus assist the RTP Groups in meeting areas of greatest need. This study was undertaken by Trutz Haase (Social and Economic Consultant) and Gamma. In 2007, the RTP was involved in qualitative ethnographic research in conjuntion with Intel on the impact of mobilty on the quality of life of older people.

RTP Newsletters: Pobal produces a number of RTP newsletters (including Health and Safety specific newsletters) each year. The newsletters aim to highlight the work of the Programme and disseminate information on transport models, policy developments, special features and the experiences of groups.

Note:

Pobal is an intermediary that works on behalf of Government to support communities and local agencies toward achieving social inclusion, reconciliation and equality.

Pobal is a not-for-profit company with charitable status that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU.