asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will, before making any future abandonment Order, under Section 9 of the Railways Act, 1933, cause a public inquiry to be held so that adequate opportunity can be afforded to all sections of the community, interested in the preservation of the line as a means of transport, to make representations; whether if the law, as it stands, does not provide for the holding of such a public inquiry, he will consider seeking the necessary new powers, by way of amendment of the law or otherwise; or, alternatively, if he will direct the Transport Advisory Committee, set up under the Transport Act, 1944, to hold an inquiry before a decision is taken to close any branch line.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abandonment of Branch Rail Lines.
Córas Iompair Éireann cannot discontinue the services on any branch railway line permanently until they have first obtained an Order under Section 9 of the Railways Act, 1933, from me authorising them to do so. Public notice must be given by the company of any proposal to close a branch line and ample time will be allowed to enable interested parties to make representations.
I have power to arrange for the holding of an inquiry should I consider this necessary or desirable in the public interest before reaching a decision on any application.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that, owing to the closing of branch railway lines, and other transport difficulties, residents in many areas in Wexford have no means of reaching towns for their weekly marketing; and if he will consider, during the present transport emergency, permitting private buses to ply between points where no alternative public transport is available at present.
I am aware that owing to the unavoidable curtailment of rail services people in many areas have been deprived of their only public transport service.
I have no information regarding the private buses to which the question refers but I would be prepared to have the matter examined on receiving further details.
Is the Minister prepared to allow private buses to operate if they are prepared to do so?
I have informed the Deputy that I have no information concerning the private buses.
The people have suffered there for a long time although the Minister has no information about it.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that, owing to the closing of the railway line from Macmine to New Ross, the people of Adamstown have no means of transport; and if he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to reroute buses between New Ross and Dublin to serve the Adamstown district.
I am aware that owing to the unavoidable curtailment of rail services many areas including Adamstown have been deprived of their only means of public transport.
The question of diverting the New Ross-Dublin bus service to take in Adamstown has been examined. I am advised, however, this would not be practicable at present. The demands on the existing service are already extremely heavy and an additional vehicle to operate a helper service is not available.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the proposed closing of the railway line from Wexford to Waterford via Rosslare Strand will cause grave inconvenience and financial loss in South Wexford, as this line serves an important tillage and live-stock raising area; and if, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the alternative road transport services, in the conditions obtaining in the area, he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to retain this line in service.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in the event of the closing of the railway line from Wexford to Waterford via Rosslare, he will arrange that the cost of the transport of live stock and farm produce will not be greater than the present cost of transport by rail.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in the event of the closing of the railway line from Wexford to Waterford via Rosslare, he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to arrange that the cost of transport of beet by road to the factories will not be greater than the present cost of transport by rail.
I propose to take questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.
I am not aware of any proposal to close the line to which the Deputy refers. If the fuel situation deteriorated to such an extent that rail services had to be discontinued, Córas Iompair Éireann would be unable to carry traffic by road at rail rates, as these rates would generally be less than the cost of providing the service by road.
It is rather peculiar that the Minister did not get the information I got. I have it from some of the employees that they got notice that the lines were to close on the 29th April. South Wexford is a cattle raising and tillage district. The people there work very hard and, if they are cut off from Waterford and Wexford, it will mean that they will have to go round by New Ross which will be 20 miles longer. They will be involved in that trouble if they want to deliver stuff in Waterford. There are two factories in Waterford—Denny's and Clover's—killing both pigs and cattle and, if that line is closed, it will mean an addition of 7/- or 8/- a head on these cattle. As regards the beet growers, they have signed a contract which specified that the beet would go by rail at the old freight. If Córas Iompair Éireann are as extravagant in carrying beet as they are in carrying live stock, it will cost the beet growers 200 per cent. more to get the beet to the factories.
I have informed the Deputy that I have no information of any proposal to close the line. So far as I know, the company do not contemplate closing it.