AQO 8404/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 04/06/2015
Answered On Date: 16/06/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the service provided by the Disability Action Transport Scheme.

Answer:

I acknowledge the valuable services delivered by Community Transport providers. As Minister I have increased funding for these services in recent years. This has included funding to support the Disability Action Transport Scheme in towns and cities across Northern Ireland for elderly and disabled people.

The Scheme was introduced on 1 April 2013 and continues to operate well. Disability Action seeks the views of their members through user forums and provides feedback to my officials, which continues to be positive. In light of the reduction to grant made available to Disability Action recent discussions have focused on how operational adjustments could be made which would minimise changes to front line services.

I will be bidding, with support from the Committee for Regional Development, for additional funding in June monitoring for Community Transport.