SCHOOL BUSES and other forms of public transport should be used in a more flexible way to deliver a sustainable rural transport policy, the Irish Rural Link (IRL) agm heard.
A report presented at the meeting said rural transport would always be uneconomic if examined from a commercial point of view, and it was unlikely that a door-to-door public transport service could be provided to every rural house.
But according to Eoin Mc Loughlin of Comhar, the sustainable development organisation, providing public transport in rural areas would cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce social inclusion and increase rural development opportunities. "For this reason, additional public funding is required to support rural transport provision and a portion of carbon tax revenue in proportion to that paid by rural people and businesses, should be ring-fenced for rural transport," he said.
The main findings of the report commissioned by Comhar and conducted by IRL, were that the status quo and urban sprawl could not be allowed to continue. It also recommended rural transport responsibility should move to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and away from the Department of Transport.
The report recommended a high-quality national transport service with pick-up points on national routes be refined and there should be regular commuter services between towns and villages.
The report also called for the provision of appropriate facilities with bus stops and timetable information. It also recommended that private landowners be encouraged to provide "park and ride" services with the aid of rural development funding.