Rural transport services under threat of closure due to funding issues

An organisation which provides transport to elderly and disabled passengers in the South Derry area is under threat of closure if they don't secure funding by next month.

Out and About Rural Transport Services provide approximately 18,000 dial-a-lift trips in the area each year.

However, it recently emerged that the organisation, which was set up 25 years ago, is now under threat of closure if funding is not secured beyond April.

Gillian Atkinson, Manager of the Magherafelt-based organisation, said the worrying news was announced at a meeting of Rural Community Transport Managers back in February.

During the meeting, Stuart Gilmore, Head of Accessible and Community Transport undertook to clarify the Department for Infrastructure's current position in relation to 2023-24 funding, in the absence of a confirmed budget.

It is understood DfI will provide funding for April 2023 however there will be no guarantee of funding past the April 30 due to the 'challenging financial position' which the Department finds itself in for 2023-24.

“Our services ensure disabled passengers attend local health appointments, day centre opportunities, shopping, visit friends and family, banking, training, local employment and provide vital links to the public transport network,” said Gillian. 

“We are constantly reaching out now more than ever to the very vulnerable within our area. We don’t only provide transport we are like an extended family to them. We reduce isolation, promote social inclusion, lend that ear to listen or that shoulder to cry on. We are a caring organisation that goes above and beyond our call of duty each and every day. This is a vital lifeline service.”

Ms Atkinson continued: “ Should this follow through this will cause severe and irreversible damage to disabled people, along with the loss of jobs in rural areas and our rural community. Livelihoods and lives will be lost should funding be reduced or discontinued.

“We do understand that public funding is under significant pressure in these unprecedented times. However, due to the high proportion of disabled and older people our organisation serves, this potential withdrawal or reduction of ongoing funding for Dial-A-Lift effectively discriminates against disabled and older people in the rural areas that we reach out to. We are aware that the department is under pressure to make cuts, but there remains a legal duty to ensure any cuts do not disproportionately impact disabled people.

“The Department has placed Out and About Community Transport in a very worrying situation for everyone involved and we know if this service didn’t continue there would be no alternative transport available if this service were to end. I would ask could you do everything in your power to ensure that our service in our community be retained. We need your help to highlight to the Department For Infrastructure to ensure that adequate funding is retained so that we can continue to run this crucial service and also guarantee the sustainability of funding in the future.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Mid-Ulster District Council, Sean McPeake (pictured below) has tabled a motion to the next Mid-Ulster District Council meeting asking the council convene an urgent meeting with the DFI Permanent Secretary seeking the securing and ring fencing of the budget necessary to sustain these vital services.

He also revealed that Shop Mobility Services, based in Meadowlane Shopping Centre in Magherafelt, which provides manual wheelchairs and powered scooters for those shopping in the shopping centre and town centre is in a similar position.

"These vital services ensures that people with disabilities can get around not only the local towns but that they can attend local health appointments, day centres, shopping or visiting friends and family. They are indeed a hugely important and vital lifeline service for those most in need of accessing community transport," he said.

"I have spoken to 'Out and About' and 'Shop Mobility' staff on this extremely worrying situation and assured them of my party’s full support in having the necessary budget’s secured for this incoming year in order to sustain these vital services, often to the most vulnerable and those in most need locally"

"Many users of the 'Out and About' rural transport services have contacted me this week on learning of the uncertain budgetary situations and expressing their genuine fears and concerns should this service be discontinued. One elderly lady whom I spoke to last week was emotionally distraught at the thought of not being able to avail of the twice weekly service she has been using for years. She said if the service was to cease she would be unable to get to the town and meet and socialise with her long-time friends, many of were of different faiths.”

Councillor McPeake added: “I am confident of getting all-party support for this motion as these vital services affect all our communities and urgently need to be retained.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said: “The Department recognises the important contribution community transport makes, complementing the wider public transport network, helping connect communities and ensuring that some of the most vulnerable people in our society are able to access essential local services and more actively participate in society. The Department also understands the impact it would have on the workforce and users if funding for this scheme was to stop.
Although budgets have not been confirmed for 2023-24, the financial outlook is likely to be very challenging and require extremely difficult decisions. Despite this, to minimise uncertainty and operational difficulties, a funding commitment has been given to community transport providers for April 2023. Further decisions for the remainder of the year will be subject to the budget outcome.”