asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has received representations from Irish societies in the Glasgow area about the inadequacy of travel facilities available from Scotland to Donegal and to other western areas in Ireland; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the facilities available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travel Facilities from Scotland.
1.
I have received a copy of a document circulated by the United Irish Societies, Glasgow, about travel facilities between Scotland and Ireland.
The provision of shipping services is primarily a matter for the shipping companies concerned but, because of the tourist interest involved, Bord Fáilte keep the services under review and make representations to the companies for the improvement of facilities where this is considered necessary.
I understand that Burns & Laird Lines, Ltd., discontinued passenger services between Glasgow and Derry in September, 1966, for economic reasons. There are, however, daily sailings on the Glasgow-Belfast and Ardrossan-Belfast routes and capacity on the latter route is to be expanded by the introduction later this year of a new vessel with capacity for 1,200 passengers and 160 cars on each crossing. On the Larne-Stranraer route there are four round trip sailings each day during the Summer period providing a daily route capacity for 8,000 passengers and 900 cars. There are connecting bus services between Belfast, Donegal and holiday centres in the West of Ireland. A joint express bus service by Córas Iompair Éireann and Ulsterbus now operates between Belfast and Gaway.
Travel facilities by air between Scotland and Ireland, including Belfast, are carrying increasing numbers of passengers. In addition, an independent airline operating between Glasgow and Derry has announced that six flights a day will operate in each direction from 14th July.
I am arranging for Bord Fáilte to keep the position under review and to maintain liaison with the transport companies concerned with a view to ensuring adequate and satisfactory services for passengers between Scotland and Ireland.
In view of the fact we have closed down altogether the service from Scotland to Derry, is it not a bit late in the day to be announcing that we propose to augment the steamer service later on this year, this being the 5th of July? We do not expect tourists to arrive in November or December, I suppose? Surely to goodness, if the Minister were acting effectively as Minister for Transport and Power, in view of all the excursions that go on between here and Belfast —up and down—and the virtual amalgamation with a great flourish of trumpets of the tourist boards in the two areas, one would imagine some better consideration would be provided for persons travelling from Glasgow area and western Scotland to Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal than what the Minister has announced?
This is a wonderful question.
I am glad for the Ceann Comhairle's appreciation but I would appreciate his silence even more.
Deputies
Oh!
The Deputy is not asking a supplementary question. He surely knows he is making a statement.
I have asked a question, Sir, and I hope for an answer. Surely the Minister ought to have taken more effective steps than appear to have been taken to deal with what he himself recognises as very bad defects? He had since last December to remedy the position arising from the suspension of the Derry boat.
Through the work of my Department and Bord Fáilte, the services across the Irish Sea have been expanded, and also through the reorganisation of British Railways, constantly and continuously in the past five years. But it is true, as the Deputy says, that I cannot guarantee that the propaganda and promotions of either Bord Fáilte or in this case Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, who have co-ordinated their work and who co-operate together, can necessarily be reflected in an improvement which is exactly equivalent to the demand for traffic in the year in question. All I can say is that I am quite content, looking back on our past record, that we have achieved improvements, even if they have not always been at the exact moment when they were required.
I hope you will do better in the future than you have done in the past.
Will the Minister state what interest he is taking in the development of air strips along the western coast to cater for this service?
That does not seem to arise relevantly under this.
I hold it does.
It does not arise relevantly. Question No. 2.