asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has received representations from the people of Bray requesting the provision of an adequate train service to Bray during the month of June, and whether he has asked C.I.E. to give favourable consideration to the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bray Train Services.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction of the public in Dublin and Bray at the decision of C.I.E. not to run a train service to Bray on Sundays in June, and if he will bring this matter to the attention of the company.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The responsibility for providing adequate transport services rests with the Board of C.I.E. Any representations which the Deputies may wish to make regarding train services to Bray should therefore be made direct to C.I.E. Representations have been made to me in the matter and I have had them conveyed to the board.
Like other Deputies, I have already made representations to C.I.E. and I have received a reply since putting down this question. The reply is not a very favourable one as far as the people of Bray are concerned. This is an important matter and I am sure the Minister is only too well aware that every organised group in Bray has protested against the attitude of C.I.E. in withdrawing services during the month of June. I would ask the Minister to approach C.I.E. again with a view to getting them to reopen their services, for the last fortnight in June anyway.
I am sure the Deputy knows the disability from which I suffer in this respect. The Transport Act of 1950 provides that it should be the particular duty of the Board of C.I.E. to exercise their powers under the Act to provide an efficient, economical, convenient and properly integrated system of public transport. This is not one of the matters in which I can intervene; it is a matter of administration by the Board of C.I.E. The Deputy will, therefore, have to endeavour to bring his persuasive powers and those of the local authorities concerned to bear on the Board of C.I.E. to accept their point of view in the matter.
Further arising out of the Minister's reply, does the Minister consider that the Board of C.I.E. are providing an efficient train service to Bray on Sundays by not providing one at all? Is not that part of their function?
That is an entirely separate matter.
The question relates to the provision of a train service to Bray on Sundays. The Minister's reply, as I understand it, is that that is not part of his function. That it is the duty of C.I.E. to provide——
The Deputy asked whether the Minister had received representations concerning an adequate service. The Deputy did not ask for the Minister's opinion.
That is not what I asked; that is what Deputy Brennan asked. I asked the Minister whether he was aware of the grave public dissatisfaction that exists.
That does not arise on the supplementary question that the Deputy is putting to the Minister.
The Minister's reply?
It does not arise directly from the question on the paper.
May I ask this question: will the Minister say, in view of the grave dissatisfaction that exists among the Dublin public and among the public in Bray at the failure to provide a service to Bray in the month of June, whether he considers that that is in compliance with C.I.E.'s duty to provide an efficient service?
That is the same question.
Are we to take it that the Minister will not make any further representations to C.I.E. in the matter?
I submitted the representations, which were made to me, to C.I.E. for the sympathetic consideration of the board; but the board is the body which is entitled to operate a service to Bray. It is not required to do so under my direction and I have no power to give them any direction. The board must be convinced of the merits of the case before it can move in the matter. I understand that the board's plea is that during the past two years, when there were train services to Bray in the month of June, there was a loss in respect of each month of June.