Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rail Services.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

137 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions, if any, she has had with Ianród Éireann in relation to upgrading the level of rolling stock on the commuter line from Arklow to Dublin, including the DART route; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the train is now greatly overcrowded with 30 people or more standing in each carriage; if she will seek to have this particular capacity improved in view of the fact that these carriages are not suitable for standing passengers as there are no handrails, handles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23241/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Under the Transport Acts, the question of assessing and meeting demands for public transport services is a matter for Córas Iompair Éireann and its operating subsidiaries.

I would also like to explain that day to day responsibility for all issues relating to rail safety is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have been assured that rail safety is the company's main priority and is of paramount importance in all aspects of the company's operations. In relation to concerns about the numbers standing on railway carriages, it is a matter for Iarnród Éireann to satisfy itself that the number of passengers being carried in any particular type of carriage does not compromise overall passenger safety. My Department's railway inspecting officer has recently been in contact with Iarnród Éireann regarding the carriage of standing passengers on trains.

The reallocation of the decommitted EU funding for Luas, which I announced on 25 June of this year, provides for the purchase of additional outer suburban rolling stock, will help to alleviate some of the current peak period overcrowding being experienced by rail passengers in the greater Dublin area.

At my request, CIE has submitted to my Department a number of public transport investment needs reviews, covering all its main areas of activity, including mainline rail and Dublin suburban rail. These have been taken into account in the initial submission made by my Department to the Department of Finance in the context of seeking EU funding for public transport projects for the post-1999 period.