To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he will continue to provide funding to support Smartpass use on Community Transport over the three annual budgets from April 2022.

While the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has responsibility for rural transport matters, officials in my Department has been collaborating with DfI over many years to enhance transportation services in rural areas to address a range of poverty, social isolation and health and well-being issues.

Therefore my Department will continue to provide funding to support Smartpass usage on Community Transport services over the three annual budgets from April 2022, subject to confirmation of an appropriate Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme budget.