Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

PART 5 GRANTS

Approved capital expenditure

32.—(1) The Department may pay grants towards approved capital expenditure incurred or to be incurred in—

(a) providing vehicles;

(b) providing, improving or developing facilities for passenger transport.

(2) In this section—

“approved” means approved by the Department;

“capital expenditure” means expenditure appearing to the Department to be of a capital nature;

“expenditure”, in relation to the provision of a vehicle by a person or body, includes, where the vehicle is provided by being manufactured or wholly or partly constructed by that person or body, such sum as appears to the Department to be properly attributable to its provision by that person or body in that manner.

Services for benefit of certain sections of the public

33.—(1) The Department may pay grants towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred in—

(a) the provision of services appearing to the Department to be wholly or mainly for the benefit of members of the public who have a disability or are elderly or live in rural areas;

(b) the provision, maintenance or improvement of—

(i) any vehicle, equipment or other facilities provided wholly or mainly for the purpose of facilitating travel by members of the public who have a disability; or

(ii) any equipment or facilities specially designed or adapted for that purpose which are incorporated in any vehicle, equipment or other facilities not provided wholly or mainly for that purpose.

(2) In subsection (1) “services” means services provided under a service agreement or the use of a vehicle under a permit granted under section 10B of the 1967 Act.

Services in certain areas

34.  The Department may pay grants for the purpose of securing the provision of passenger transport in any area, to any person providing, or proposing to provide, it in that area under a service agreement, if the Department is satisfied—

(a) that it is necessary to meet the reasonable needs of persons in that area;

(b) that what is being provided or proposed to be provided will be carried on efficiently and economically; and

(c) that the person providing or proposing to provide it will, if grants are not made under this section, be unable or unwilling to carry on, or provide, it in an efficient and economic manner.

Advice and information, etc.

35.  The Department may pay grants to any person towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred in the provision of advice, information, support or training relating to passenger transport.

Supplementary

36.  If the Department considers it appropriate in connection with any provision of, or the purposes of, this Act, but has not power to do so under any other provision of this Part, the Department may pay such grants to such persons as it considers appropriate.

Terms, conditions and approval of Department of Finance and Personnel

37.—(1) Grants made under this Part shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, determine.

(2) Grants shall not be made under this Part without the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

(3) Subsection (2) has effect subject to any direction given to the Department by the Department of Finance and Personnel.