Member's statement: Community Transport
Member's statement by Mr Paul Boggs on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Boggs
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 13 October 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Community Transport
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5789406
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This week is Community Transport Week. As a representative of the rural constituency of West Tyrone, I know just how much of a lifeline community transport is for so many people. Community transport organisations such as Easilink, which serves the greater Strabane and Omagh areas in my constituency, provide an essential service to ensure that people are connected with their local towns and health services. Easilink's dial-a-lift service, its rural links to health service and its disability action transport scheme are second to none, and users of them, many of whom I have spoken to, could not be without them. Supporting community transport has been a priority for successive Sinn Féin Ministers for Infrastructure. Our commitment to improving services was further backed up yesterday, when Minister Liz Kimmins announced an investment of £1 million in community transport providers. That funding will enable each of the 13 providers in the North to purchase a new minibus as they work towards replacing their ever-ageing fleet. Whether it is helping people who live in isolated rural areas or older people without access to a car, community transport plays a crucial role in keeping people connected, independent and socially active. I therefore welcome the Minister's support for community transport providers and the many people who rely on them as a lifeline. As we work towards a better connected society with improved transport links, community transport organisations have an even bigger role to play. I look forward to working with them and the Minister to ensure that they are supported to play their part in the time ahead.
263 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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