To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) whether she plans to include community transport schemes in her proposed financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators; and (ii) for her assessment of how community transport schemes have supported other sectors, such as health and social care and community groups, during the pandemic.

The rationale, and funding, for the financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators has received the support of the Executive and I have also received a determination and designation from the First Minister and Deputy First Ministers for the implementation of the scheme. The Scheme does not include plans for community transport schemes. However additional Covid Relief resource grant funding has been made available to provide financial assistance to community transport providers, funded by my Department, who have been negatively affected by the pandemic and will incur a financial operating deficit in the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The majority of the Rural Community Transport Partnerships (RCTPs) will receive this Covid Relief financial support to enable them to continue to deliver the much valued and needed Dial- a-Lift services.

Covid has presented a number of unprecedented challenges and I appreciate the valuable services the RCTPs and Disability Action (DA), which delivers the Disability Action Transport Service (DATS), have continued to deliver during these difficult times. Transport services have been offered throughout the pandemic in line with government Covid restrictions. In order to provide further support and flexibility during the pandemic, and to utilise spare capacity freed up by a reduction in demand for transport services, I allowed the community transport operators to provide transitioned services. This enabled the community transport providers to provide further support to their local communities. Working with local community groups the transport providers determined need and provided services such as checking in on members by phone, delivery of shopping, prescriptions, personal protective equipment and food boxes. Deliveries were also undertaken for Tiny Life. When the vaccination programmes commenced the RCTPs and DA provided transport to vaccinations, including outside of their operational area. These services were also extended to non-members who were vulnerable and/or were required to shield. In addition both the RCTPs and DATS provide transport for health related appointments, as resources permit. They have absorbed the cost of this within their current funding, whilst continuing to deliver many other valuable services, and I know they have provided invaluable assistance to the NI Ambulance Service.

The table below provides statistical information on transitioned services delivered up to December 2021.

*Includes both passenger and non-passenger transport

**DfC food parcel ended August 2020

***These figures are also included in the transitioned services

A report was completed, on behalf of my Department, by the Community Transport Association which looked at the services delivered and the positive impact on local communities. It can be accessed via this link. Report: Serving Northern Ireland – Community Transport During Coronavirus | Community Transport Association (ctauk.org).