Vital County Derry bus services facing cuts get two month lifeline

County Derry's community bus services face an uncertain future as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) says it has 'extremely difficult decisions' to make about cuts.

Dial-a-lift services carry out around 200,000 journeys a year but may not have DfI funding past the end of June.

The funding was set to expire at the end of this month but following community and political pressure it has been granted a two month extension.

The service provides transport for people with disabilities, health appointments, Day centre appointments, shopping, local employment, training needs, links to wider public transport or going out to meet family or friends.

In Mid Ulster, Out and About Community Transport provides around 18,000 dial-a-lift journeys a year.

North Coast Community Transport provides Dial a Lift in all regions of the Causeway Coast & Glens council area. It provided 50,870 trips for its users in 2021 and 2022.

Easilink provides the service in Derry and Strabane.

Dial-a-lift previously received annual government funding of £2.2m each year but planning funding long term is impossible because Stormont is unable to set a budget due to the lack of an Executive.

Politicians from each council area condemned the potential cuts, with many lobbying the department to change course.

East Derry MLA Claire Sugden said that the potential closure of the community transport groups would be ‘unthinkable’ for the thousands of isolated, elderly and disabled people who rely on such services.

“It is difficult to underestimate the importance of community transport in the lives of those who need it,” said Ms Sugden, who is chair of Stormont’s All Party Group on Ageing and Older People.

“I have already been contacted numerous times by people deeply concerned about the potential closure of this service across the north coast.

“I have already contacted the Department for Infrastructure and met with North Coast Community Transport. My hope is that a resolution to this funding issue can be found before irreparable damage is done to these organisations as they stand.”

In Derry and Strabane, SDLP Faughan Representative Hayley Canning said she met with Easilink to discuss its future. Her fellow party member, MLA Mark H Durkan, says he has written to the DfI 'to make sure an equality impact assessment is carried out'.

Mr Durkan has also asked the departments for Health, DAERA and Communities to engage with DfI on the issue.

Mid Ulster unanimously passed Sinn Féin Cllr Sean Mc Peake's motion to recognise the importance of the Out and About and Shop mobility services and request a meeting with the DFI.

A DfI representative said they are in a very difficult position and cannot guarantee funding beyond this month.

“Although budgets have not been confirmed for 2023-24, the financial outlook is likely to be very challenging and require extremely difficult decisions,” they said.

"Despite this, to minimise uncertainty and operational difficulties, a funding commitment has been given to community transport providers for April 2023.

“In the absence of a budget outcome, no further decisions have been made on funding allocations for community transport for 2023-24.”

Dfi said it recognises the importance of community transport for people in rural areas and for 'some of the most vulnerable people in our society'.

“The Department also understands the impact it would have on the workforce and users if funding for this scheme was to stop,” the representative said.