Doubts hang over future of CAT

Clare’s bus service can only be maintained by keeping Clare Accessible Transport in its entirety, the manager of the rural transport company has said.
The future of Clare Accessible Transport was cast into doubt this week following the leaking of a draft report from the Department of Transport, which signalled the abolishment of 35 community-based rural transport companies.
Speaking following the leaking of the report, Laura Ward, manager of Clare Accessible Transport, which services 50,000 passenger trips per year, said the National Transport Authority is exploring ways of making a direct awards process available to fleet-owning companies such as Clare Accessible Transport within the restructuring process.
She said, “A direct award contract will enable the company to remain intact, maintaining Clare’s local bus service and local jobs.” 
“Clare Accessible Transport will work to make sure we have strong representation to the minister, that services will continue for the community in the way they have been since 2003 and that jobs are maintained. We will represent the areas that have not yet been covered by the bus service to date and fight for resources to deliver a network that covers the whole county and we would like to acknowledge everyone for their support,” Ms Ward said.
At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Councillors Pat Hayes, Michael Kelly and Bill Chambers tabled a motion calling on the Government to clarify the position in relation to rural transport programme.
The motion called on the council to ask the minister to retain and enhance the present rural transport network in Clare, as it is essential for rural communities.
Commenting on the issue, Labour deputy Michael McNamara said he fully supports the Rural Transport Network and described the work of Clare Accessible Transport as invaluable.
“I am not opposed to a review of any service, particularly in difficult economic times but any reorganisation of rural transport must not result in the diminution of services. The strong community ethos of Clare Accessible Transport must be retained. The need for rural transport originated in communities. They came together and fought hard for the services we now have. Clare Accessible Transport promotes equality of access and support for rural communities through an affordable, integrated community-based transport service. I remain to be convinced that shifting control to a more centralised bureaucratic system would provide a better or more efficient system than we already have,” he said. 
He added that he would await the publication of the report from the Department of Transport and “not rely on leaks that may not be accurate”.
Also commenting on the issue, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on transport, Deputy Timmy Dooley, said any downgrade of the rural transport network must be resisted.
“This has been an extremely successful and cost-effective scheme since its inception in 2002. This scheme is evidence of the real benefits of involving the community in local services. It has exceeded expectations in tackling rural isolation and providing valuable transport links to those who would otherwise have been isolated in their homes.  It is the community element of this scheme that makes it so successful and in my view the removal of community input will only undermine the service,” he said.
He described it as another attack on rural Ireland and said he wants the minister to immediately clarify his plans in light of these latest reports.
Clare Sinn Féin spokesperson Anne Hayes said, “This has nothing to do with reform, this is about more cuts – plain and simple. It is another attack on rural Ireland.
“This service has greatly improved the quality of life for many people in Clare. Slashing the community-based companies providing these services will make them less responsive to local needs. Instead of a flexible service, we will have a one-size-fits-all bureaucratic system. We all know we are in a recession but following the same policies that got us here will not get us out of it. Sinn Féin fully supports the rural transport scheme and I would call on the minister to reject any proposal to cut it,” she said.