With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
I have lost no opportunity to press, in conjunction with Bord Fáilte, for improvements in the services in question. I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 6th June, 1961, in which I mentioned some of the improvements which had been then achieved.
Among additional improvements for this season are the following:—
(i) At least 40 additional sailings will be provided this season on the routes in question, 26 on the Dún Laoghaire route and 17 on the Rosslare route. On the Dún Laoghaire route, passenger capacity for the 1962 summer season is approximately double the numbers actually carried last year.
(ii) To encourage more even utilisation of the services, the validity of the cheap mid-week fares has been extended and the requirement of sailing tickets for day sailings has been cut to the minimum.
In order to facilitate the services provided by British Railways, improvements at the mail boat pier at Dún Laoghaire are continuing.
There are catering facilities available at Dún Laoghaire, Rosslare and Fishguard as well as on the vessels and trains which operate from these ports. These services have in recent years been extended and improved following representations and suggestions by Bord Fáilte.