asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will now direct Córas Iompair Éireann to restore the rail passenger and goods service to Courtmacsherry.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - County Cork Rail Service.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to restore a daily rail service from Skibbereen to Baltimore.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to reopen the branch railway line from Schull to Skibbereen, County Cork, for passenger and general traffic.
I propose to take questions Nos. 2, 4 and 5 together.
The temporary discontinuance of railway services is governed by the provisions of Emergency Powers (Córas Iompair Éireann) (Reduction of Railway Services) Order, 1944, as continued by the Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1946.
All the rail services on these branch lines were discontinued on account of the shortage of fuel. Recently restricted services were restored to Courtmacsherry for the carriage of sand, and between Skibbereen and Baltimore on one day a week for passengers. It has not been possible to restore any service between Skibbereen and Schull.
I do not propose to issue any direction to Córas Iompair Éireann in relation to these services.
Is the Minister aware that these branch lines were originally guaranteed by the ratepayers of the areas concerned, and that over a long number of years they bore the heavy impost of establishing and maintaining those lines? Does he not think, now that there is a general improvement in the fuel situation and in the railway situation that these districts should have some consideration?
I do not think that the question of the former baronial guarantees matters at all. All these guarantees were completely liquidated by the Transport Act of 1924.
Surely there is a moral responsibility left.
There is no responsibility left on anybody, either upon the company or upon anybody else.
There is no legal responsibility I know, but surely in equity there is something due to these areas.
There are parts of the general railway system of the country. That system has not been operated fully because of fuel shortages. The company must be left a discretion to use available fuel supplies to serve the public need in the best manner possible.
Will the railway company consider the matter favourably as soon as there is a further improvement is the fuel situation?
If there is a further improvement in the fuel situation an improvement in services can be expected, but there is no certainty of an improvement in the fuel situation.
May I have a statement on what I think was said in the Seanad that all those branch lines are now closed for good?
None of the branch lines to which these questions relate has been closed otherwise than under an Emergency Powers Order. They cannot be closed permanently and they cannot be abandoned by the company unless there has been an Order made under the Transport Acts. Such an Order cannot be made without adequate public notice, and without a full opportunity being given to consider representations from affected local interests.
Will the Minister in respect of these branch lines give the House an undertaking that, during the period when the services upon them is suspended under the Emergency Powers Order, Córas Iompair Eireann will be required to do their statutory duty of maintaining the lines in proper condition so that at the end of the period it will not be in a position to go to the Minister for Industry and Commerce under the Transport Acts and say: "Inasmuch as the condition of the line has greatly deteriorated we ask your permission to close it permanently because the capital cost of rehabilitating it would be prohibitive"?
I will give no such undertaking. Everyone knows——
That is the snag.
——that one of the main problems of the railway company during the whole period of the emergency was in regard to the procurement of materials for railway maintenance.
A few loads of stones would keep the weeds from growing.