Transport Schemes To Aid Rural Areas

Two government initiatives are targeting a lack of public transport in rural parts of NI.

People who live in the country and face various transport problems will soon have available two schemes to best meet their access needs to services and facilities.

Stormont Transport Minister Conor Murphy (pictured) and the NI Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew announced the two new schemes yesterday, the Dial-a-Lift Scheme and the Assisted Rural Transport Scheme (ARTS).

Both Ministers explained their respective Departments have worked closely together to introduce these projects. 



Conor Murphy added: "This is an excellent example of how Ministers, Departments and the Community Sector can work together to bring real benefits to the lives of local people."

The Dial-a-Lift Scheme is a similar service to the Door-to-Door services from urban areas.

It provides transport to members of Rural Community Transport Partnerships, who are socially isolated and have limited access to the local services and facilities.

The Assisted Rural Transport Scheme will allow eligible members of Rural Community Transport Partnerships to obtain concessionary travel when using community transport.

This project - supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - will be launched as a pilot to help ease the financial burden on people who live in rural areas.



"I welcome the commitment from all the 16 Rural Community Transport Partnerships in working together to introduce these enhanced services and I also welcome DARD's support in providing funding for the Assisted Rural Transport scheme," stated Minister Murphy.

Minister Michelle Gildernew noted transport is consistently identified as one of Northern Ireland biggest stumbling blocks when it is one of the most important social issues.

She said: "Having spoken to young people with disabilities and hearing at first hand how lack of transport provision inhibits their ability to work or socialise; the lack of suitable, reliable rural transport provision has for some time been a concern for me as it compounds rural poverty and social exclusion."

The new schemes that will make the access to basic local services easier for these people who live outside the urban areas will be available from next month.

(CL/BMcC)