Accessible Transport.

If you are a wheelchair user or somebody with mobility difficulties or indeed knows of somebody who is, then West Cork Rural Transport may be in a position to provide some accessible transport. As each request is assessed on an individual basis please contact the office to discuss the details further.

Community Car Scheme.  

West Cork Rural Transport operates in the extremely rural and transport disadvantaged area of South West Cork

The services target groups such as older people, lone parents, women in the home, isolated men, youth, people with disabilities and mobility impairment.
This project is based on a Social Car System, and will involve the transport of clients to Hospital appointments, Doctors clinics, shopping, and playschools and youth activities. Drivers on the Community Car project will be volunteers, but will be covered for their expenses where appropriate.
The services are administered and co-ordinated from the West Cork Rural Transport office in 5 Main Street Bantry Co Cork. Transport requests must be booked in advance with the office. West Cork Rural Transport in addition, facilitates the monitoring, evaluation, and rationalisation of services to support the future viability of transport services in the area 

Driver Training

The group also provides Driver Training in ‘D1’ category licence for those people wishing to acquire a ‘D1’ licence, which will entitle a person to drive a Mini Bus with a seating capacity for sixteen people plus the driver. The vehicle is supplied to the applicant. For details contact the office.

The group provides ‘MiDAS’ training both in-house and contracted out.

MiDAS (MiDAS Training)

Introduction:

MiDAS stands for Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme. It is a programme designed to enhance the driving and passenger awareness skills of minibus drivers. It is run under the auspices of the Community Transport Association in England and administered by the Community Transport of Ireland.

Objectives:

The objectives of MiDAS are that minibus driver will:

Be assessed to ensure their driving skills are of an acceptable standard

• Be given help where necessary to improve their minibus driving skills

• Be aware of the legal, practical and safety issues surrounding minibus driving

• Be trained in the safe use of accessible minibuses where necessary

• Receive a certificate which is accepted by other MiDAS members

Benefits:

This training then should lead to such potential benefits as follows:

Enhanced passenger safety

• Improved passenger comfort

• Increased driver confidence

• Reduced stress on minibus drivers

• Potential reduction in the vehicle running costs

• A better image for the organisation

• A better image for the minibuses

Course Content:

The course can be divided into two parts; one is a practical driving exercise incorporation driving fault analysis with identification and correction. The remainder of the training takes place in a classroom setting session.

The content includes the following:

Monitoring and Evaluating Driving Standards

• Driving Skills Training

• Defensive Driving

• Passenger Safety

• Personal Safety

• Manual Handling Awareness

• Breakdown, Accident and Emergency Procedures

• Safe use of Passenger Lifts and Ramps

• Wheelchair and Passenger Restraint Equipment

• Good Practise and Professional Etiquette

Who is it aimed at?

MiDAS is applicable to any organisation operating or using minibuses. Member organisations range from small voluntary organisations operating one vehicle, to local authorities operating large fleets of minibuses as well as schools, colleges and universities.

All drivers should attend, but particularly those working with people with disabilities. This course will enhance confidence and performance.

What MiDAS offers you

• You and your passengers will be aware that your driving competence has been assessed to a common countrywide standard.

• You will receive up to date training in the skills and information needed to drive a minibus.

• You will be able to drive the minibuses of other MiDAS members without having your driving skills re-assessed

Further Details at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact the office on 027-52727

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West Cork Rural Transport is an approved training centre to deliver the Driver CPC training as set out by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). This training is an EU Directive and it is compulsory for all professional Bus and Truck Drivers. Further information is set out in question and answer format below according to RSA guidelines.
For more details on the training and training dates please contact West Cork Rural Transport at 027-52727 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is Driver CPC?:

Driver CPC is a Certificate of Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers. Its purpose is to set and maintain high standards of safety and driving among drivers of trucks and buses.
Driver CPC was introduced in Ireland on the 10th September 2008 for bus drivers and the 10th September 2009 for truck drivers.
From these dates on, professional drivers will need to take part in continuous training of one day per year in an RSA approved Training Centre.

How does Driver CPC affect me as a Professional Driver?:

If you are already a professional bus driver on the 10th September 2008 / professional truck driver on the 10th of September 2009, you will get acquired rights for Driver CPC. Your licence should have the date of issue before the 10th September 2008 (for bus drivers), or 10th September 2009 (for truck drivers), which will be evidence of your Driver CPC.
You will then have to do 35 hours of periodic training over the next five years (one day per year) in an approved RSA training centre. When you complete all your periodic training within the five years you will get a card recording your Driver CPC, photograph and signature.
If you do not complete five days of periodic training (one per year) in each five year period you will not get a card and therefore cannot work as a professional driver. There are penalties for drivers who drive professionally without their Driver CPC qualification.

What happens if I don’t obey the rules of Driver CPC?:

• If you cannot show your Driver CPC, you are breaking the law and you could get a fine of up to €2,000.
• If you fake documentation you could get a fine of up to €5,000.
• If you drive without a valid Driver CPC you could get a fine of up to €2,000.
• If you or an employer causes or lets another driver who does not have a valid Driver CPC drive a relevant vehicle you / they could get a fine of up to €5,000.

What do I do if I am both a professional bus and truck driver?:

If you have both a bus and truck licence, you will have to do six days of training in five years (42 hours of periodic training in 5 years). There are four training modules which must be completed by both bus and truck drivers; there is one module which is specific to bus drivers; and one which is specific to truck drivers.
A driver with both a bus and a truck licence to maintain will be required to complete all six modules every five years.