Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Nov 1961

Vol. 192 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Branch Railway Lines.

19.

Mr. Norton

asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of branch railway lines closed in each of the calendar years from 1957 to date; the areas in which the lines were located; the number of persons rendered redundant as a result; and the mileage of track involved in each closure.

Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers)

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

TABLE showing the number of branch railway lines closed since 1957, the location of the lines, the number of employees rendered redundant as a result and the mileage of track involved in each closure.

Calendar Year	Number of lines closed	Branch line concerned	Number of employees rendered redundant	Mileage of track involved
1957	3	Monaghan to the Border (G.N.R.)	Nil	7miles
		Pettigo/Bundoran (G.N.R.)	Nil	9¼,,
		Enniskillen/Collooney, (Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway).	91(in the State)	30½,,(in the State)
		Totals	91	46¾
1958	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
1959	4	Harcour Street/Shanganagh Junction	20	10½ miles
		Cavan/Leitrim	15	48¾,,
		Ballyhaise/Belturbet		4 ,,
		Sallins/Tullow	6	34¾,,
		Totals	41	98 ,,
1960	10	Claremorris/Ballinrobe	4	12¾ miles
		Headford Junction/Kenmare	11	19¾,,
		Dundalk/Clones		41½,,
		Inny Junction/Cavan	44	25 ,,
		Cavan/Monaghan		27¾,,
		Inniskeen/Carrickmacross		6½,,
		Farranfore/Valentia Harbour	21	39¼,,
		Strabane/Letterkenny (County Donegal Railways joint Committee).	57	19 ,,
		Strabane/Killybegs (do.)		51 ,,
		Donegal/Ballyshannon (do.)		16 ,,
		Totals	137	258¼,,
1961 to 30th November.	3	Waterford/Tramore	3	7¼ miles
	West Clare	18	53½,,
	West Cork	44	91 ,,
		Totals	65	151¾,,

The figures shown in the fourth column relate to employees (other than temporary employees with less than 3 years' service, for whom figures are not readily available) whose services have been dispensed with to date and who have been granted redundancy compensation.