To ask the Minister for Regional Development how she will use additional funding from the November monitoring round to improve community transport provision, specifically in rural areas.

I secured an additional £600k for Community Transport in 2015-16 following the November monitoring exercise. This additional funding will reinstate approximately one third of the reduction in funding in this area. A third of the reduction introduced at the start of 2015/16 will be reinstated to the Disability Action Transport Scheme (£200k) and the Dial a Lift Scheme (£400k), which is delivered by the Rural Community Transport Partnerships (RCTPs). Each of the RCTPs will have approximately one third of their funding reduction reinstated and I expect to see additional trips to be provided to members of the RCTP’s as a result.