asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the comparative passenger mile rates of public transport by (a) rail, and (b) road, in the State as against those obtaining in England, Denmark and Holland, and the general European average for such operations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Transport Passenger and Freight Rates.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the comparative average rates per ton mile for the carriage of merchandise by (a) rail, and (b) road, by public transport in the State, the general European average for such carriage, and the corresponding figures for the carriage of live stock.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
It is impossible to provide comparative figures of the kind requested by the Deputy. So far as this country is concerned, the only information available is that contained in pages 30 to 33 of the Statement of Accounts and Statistics of C.I.E. for the year ended 31st March, 1956, which was presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 24th January, 1957.
The Annual Report of the British Transport Commission contains certain information in relation to rail and road receipts but the figures are not readily comparable with those for Ireland. So far as the Continent of Europe is concerned, I am advised by the Central Statistics Office that, while the statistics published by the International Union of Railways give some particulars of average rail rates charged by European countries, these figures are not given in a way which would enable the comparative analysis the Deputy has requested to be made. The figures published by the international body do not cover road transport.