asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give particulars of all branch and subsidiary railway lines which have been closed since 1939 and also particulars in each case of the resultant increased cost of carriage of goods and live stock.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Branch Railway Lines.
Services are not at present being operated on the following railway lines which were open for traffic in 1939: Bagenalstown-Palace East, Banteer-Newmarket, Clara-Streamstown, Cork-Macroom, Crossdoney-Killeshandra, Fermoy-Mitchelstown, Goold's Cross-Cashel, Gortatlea-Castleisland, Portlaoighise-Mountmellick, Sallins-Tullow, Schull-Skibbereen, Tralee-Dingle, Birdhill-Killaloe, Woodenbridge-Shillelagh.
Particulars of any resultant increased cost of carriage are not available. I am advised by the company that it would be a matter of considerable difficulty and expense to estimate particulars of this type in view of the varying rates for different kinds of goods, the different lengths of hauls and the varying loads.