The Strangford MLA has said: “Before I became an MLA, I had the privilege of working in Community Transport Association, North Belfast Community Transport, and PACT (Peninsula Community Transport) for 16 years.

“During those years, Rural Transport provided thousands of older people and people with disabilities with accessible transport solutions. The Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) trained hundreds of community and volunteer drivers, and I personally wrote hundreds of S10b minibus permits on behalf of DVANI for minibuses across the country.

“Community Transport was supported by grant funding through the Rural Transport Fund and the Transport Programme for People with Disabilities in urban areas. That funding helped to provide minibus transport services, driven by community volunteer drivers where public or private transport was unsuitable or not available. The main providers of wheelchair accessible transport before low floor vehicles were introduced, community minibuses continue to be the only access option for many people with limited mobility.

“Every time I see a white minibus I am reminded of the lovely passengers, committed drivers, and kind office staff, who were all tirelessly committed to delivering local transport solutions to make life better for those that needed them in our communities.

“I used to say Community Transport played a pivotal role in the community, and that it was the enabler than helped people stay connected and reduce isolation. It still is. For 25 years Community Transport has made a difference, and I am so privileged to have been part of such a wonderful movement of dedicated community activists.”