To ask the Minister for Regional Development to outline the criteria that community groups are required to fulfil in order to be eligible for rural transport support through the Rural Transport Fund; and how an assessment of eligibility is carried out.

My Department currently administers a Voucher Scheme from the Rural Transport Fund (RTF). This scheme provides a voucher to the value of £100 towards their travel costs, to Community groups where more than 17 people are travelling.

The criteria for eligibility is that the group must have a formal Constitution for their organisation; be charitable / non-profit making; include 17 or more people travelling; and be based in a rural area (at least 50% of the group members from a rural area). Priority is given to elderly and disability groups; in line with the overall priorities of RTF funding.

Rural Community Transport Partnerships (RCTP’s) also operate a Group Hire Transport Service either self drive or driver provided to Member Groups who meet the membership criteria requested by the partnerships.

We are currently assessing the overall budgetary context for next year and this may impact on the services listed above.