asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to sellers of livestock and cattle dealers at fairs in South Kerry, because the branch railways have been closed by Córas Iompair Éireann because of lack of traffic; if he will consider declaring the whole area abandoned by Córas Iompair Éireann to be an exempted area under the Road Transport Acts, 1933-1958; if he is also aware of the inadequacy of the concessions granted to tractor owners under the 1958 Act whereby a tractor owner can remove agricultural produce for a neighbouring farmer, who must be resident within two miles of the tractor owner, for a distance of only up to twenty miles by public road; and whether in view of the fact that a large number of farmers in South Kerry reside up to sixty miles now from the nearest railway station and twenty to thirty miles from the nearest fairs he will consider extending the transport limit to sixty miles and removing the two mile resident clause.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Kerry Branch Railways.
I am not aware that hardship and inconvenience have been caused to sellers of livestock and cattle dealers at fairs in South Kerry because of the closing of branch lines.
No area in South Kerry or elsewhere has been abandoned by C.I.E.; they have replaced uneconomic rail services with adequate and satisfactory road services.
Though the matter is one entirely for C.I.E., I have been furnished by the Board with a report on a complaint that they did not promptly remove all cattle from the fair held at Kenmare on 26th September, 1960. On that occasion the output of cattle was some 2½ times greater than at the corresponding fairs in 1958 and 1959. When it became clear that the number of lorries allocated to the fair would be insufficient to cope with the unprecedented number of cattle additional lorries were obtained. The first lorry load left the fair at 9 a.m. and the last at 8.5 p.m. I am assured that in the particular circumstance of this case just as much delay would have occurred if the railway service were still in operation.
I am satisfied that taking account of C.I.E.'s own road services, and of the road services of licensed hauliers, the transport facilities in the area are adequate and that there is, therefore, no need for the measures urged by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that I did not refer to any special fair because there are other fairs in South Kerry also where there was not sufficient transport? May I say to the Minister that he has no idea of the position in South Kerry since the railways were closed?
C.I.E. recently called upon all the traders in Cahirciveen and Waterville and they expressed themselves as being satisfied with the position. They were complimentary about C.I.E.
The people standing over cattle for several hours were not satisfied.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether the change in the form of transport for animals has meant any reduction in the amounts received by the primary producer for the animals sold at fairs and marts in this area?
Again, arrangements were made by C.I.E. in regard to that.
I am glad to know that the Minister is in consultation with C.I.E.