The Avondhu Blackwater Partnership is this week considering the implications of the changes in the rural transport programme announced this week by the Government.  

A spokesman said they were still going through the document to see how they might be affected. The Board of the Partnership also have to review it and any impact it may have on the transport services they provide for rural areas.

Public transport Minister Alan Kelly, in announcing the changes, said the reforms were a new start for rural transport in Ireland.

“The current RTP is not achieving its potential and it needs a new structure to do this,” he said.

18 new transport co-ordination units are to be created as part of the restructure, co-ordinated where practical, by local authorities. 

Meanwhile Déise Link, the not-for-profit company which provides 34 bus services in rural county Waterford every week, welcomed the restructuring. Cllr Mary Greene, Chairperson said: “This announcement should help alleviate the sense of uncertainty around the future of our services. We believe that the outcome will be good for rural transport services in County Waterford. We feel that it is appropriate that Minister Kelly has confirmed that the new programme will now link directly with transport planning within local authorities”.

Déise Link has had strong links with Waterford County Council since its inception and is headquartered in the Council’s offices in Dungarvan. It organised almost 40,000 passenger journeys in 2012 using 15 local private bus operators to provide the services.

“We welcome the fact that Minister Kelly has underlined the voluntary input by community representatives that has been a core value of the programme. Déise Link services have been developed in the interest of local communities and it is reassuring that this dynamic is to be maintained,” Cllr Greene added.

It is expected that Déise Link will apply to become one of the 18 Transport Co-ordination Units (TCUs) in the country which will be in place from early 2014.