AQW 45834/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 15/05/2015
Answered On Date: 02/06/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how her Department is working with the Department for Regional Development to deliver the commitment to tackle poverty and social isolation, through providing rural community transport and protecting the existing services.

Answer:

Through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme my Department continues to fund the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme (ARTS) working in partnership with the Department for Regional Development (DRD). This Scheme provides free or half fare travel to those rural dwellers with a SmartPass (mainly the elderly and disabled) on Rural Community Transport Partnership vehicles across the north of Ireland.