Vol. 315 No. 12
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport when CIE were officially informed that the application to electrify the suburban rail system in Dublin was approved, and what are the proposals to raise the capital money required as no provision has been made in this year's Estimates.
13.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport when it is proposed to commence work on the electrification of the Bray-Howth suburban rail line.
14.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if it is proposed to include the suburban rail line from Balbriggan to Howth junction in the first phase of the electrification of the suburban rail line.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13 and 14 together.
Prior to the public announcement in the matter, CIE were officially informed on 31 May last that the Government had approved of the electrification of the Dublin suburban rail services from Howth to Bray. I understand from CIE that preliminary work on the project has begun.
The capital provision for CIE in the 1979 Public Capital Programme is £15 million. In so far as this provision may not be sufficient to cover expenditure in 1979 on the electrification project, additional capital moneys can be made available by way of Exchequer capital advances or by other borrowings by CIE under section 2 of the Transport Act, 1974.
As regards expenditure arising in 1980 and subsequent years, appropriate provision will be made in the Public Capital Programme for these years.
There are no proposals for the electrification of the line from Howth Junction to Balbriggan.
Would the Minister regard it as coincidental that the local elections took place on 7 June and that after two years CIE were informed on 31 May of the Government's approval of this project?
I would not regard that as coincidental. This involved a matter which was very costly and which had to be considered very carefully by the Government. We reached a decision on it finally. Deputy Quinn alleged here that we would never accept the proposals but he has been proved wrong.
Would the Minister accept that if it had not been for my lobbying this scheme would still be a proposal and that, effectively, the Minister for Economic Planning and Development would have squashed it? In view of the fact that the matter was under consideration for two years should not some preliminary provision have been made in this year's Estimate in this regard? Can the Minister indicate when he intends bringing before the House a supplementary estimate for the capital sums required?
Regarding the first part of the Deputy's question, his lobbying had nothing to do with the decision. Indeed, as I have said, he alleged that we would never decide in favour of this project. After the very careful consideration that was necessary in respect of a matter which involved so much money, we reached a decision to give the go-ahead to the project. As I have pointed out there is provision in this regard for CIE but if that provision is found to be inadequate, additional capital moneys could be made available by way of Exchequer capital advances or by other borrowings by CIE in accordance with section 2 of the Transport Act, 1974.
Having reluctantly decided to give the go-ahead to CIE, can the Minister assure the House that there will be no shortage of capital funds for this project since the local elections are over?
There is no reluctance on the part of the Minister or the Government. The Deputy can be assured that the decision of the Government will be carried out.
How much will be spent on this work in 1979?
I have not got that information.
How long will it take to carry out the electrification referred to?
That is a separate question.
About three-and-a-half years.
