Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan T.D. has condemned the current threat to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP).

Deputy Broughan said, "Last week myself and my colleague Deputy Séan Sherlock were briefed in Dail Eireann by Jack Roche, Brian Bonham and Damien Tobin of the RTP. They highlighted the outstanding role that the 37 transport operators within the network provide for rural communities across Ireland. The RTP received just €10 million in funding from the Department of Transport in 2008. Yet operators within the network provided over 1.2 million passenger journeys in rural areas where people have simply no other public or private transport options to go about their daily lives and get for example to the post office or a hospital appointment.

"The rural transport network is an absolutely essential service that is particularly important for senior and other vulnerable citizens who would otherwise be completely isolated. The RTP is also an important source of local employment with 80 drivers directly employed by RTP companies and a further 657 privately employed drivers. In Pobal’s Performance and Impact Report 2008/2009 "Rural Transport Connecting Rural Ireland", the RTP met or exceeded all of its key performance indicators and targets. Yet it is incredible that the relatively insignificant annual €10 million funding the programme receives, now appears to be under threat and was targeted for abolition under the recent McCarthy Report.

"On October 7th next, representatives of the Rural Transport Programme will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee. I hope that Fianna Fail and Green members of the Committee will now urgently join with the Labour Party in supporting the Rural Transport Programme and ensuring its survival and expansion."