asked the Minister for Communications the number of recommendations which have emerged from inquiries into fatal accidents involving publicly funded transport in the past ten years; and the number of such recommendations which have been implemented.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Transport Accidents.
9.
During the ten years from 1975 to 1984 public inquiries were held into four railway accidents which involved fatalities.
As regards the accident which occurred at Gormanstown, County Meath, on 21 October 1974 a public inquiry was held on 5-7 February 1975. The report of this inquiry made five recommendations. All were implemented.
In the case of the railway accident on 31 December 1975 at Cain Bridge, near Gorey, two recommendations were made both of which were implemented.
The inquiry into the railway accident at Buttevant on 1 August 1980 made eight recommendations covering 17 specific points, the majority of which were implemented immediately after publication of the report or as soon as practicable thereafter. Of the balance, recommended improvements to the information systems on railway operations are expected to be implemented shortly, while the recommendation on restricting the use of timber-bodied coaches is being implemented progressively as new mainline rolling stock becomes available. In the case of the recommendation on a maximum speed of 75 mph CIE decided that on certain limited improved sections of the track of the Dublin-Cork line, speeds in excess of that limit could be safely used with the new rolling stock which became available in mid-1984.
The report of the public inquiry into the fatal accident at Cherryville, County Kildare, on 21 August 1983 is expected to be published shortly.
In addition, there is a continuous process of investigation into railway incidents of various kinds involving recommendations which are generally implemented. No public inquiries have been held within the past ten years involving publicly funded transport in the civil aviation or shipping spheres.
Is the Minister saying that in the case of the four public railway accident inquiries virtually all the recommendations have been implemented except in the Buttevant case where some are still being considered?
The report of the fourth inquiry is not yet published but I expect it will be shortly. In the case of the first two inquiries, all recommendations have been implemented and in relation to the Buttevant case almost all have been implemented. Two recommendations are in the process of being implemented and a third is implemented except in so far as improvements to portions of the track on the Dublin-Cork line are concerned.
Is the Minister satisfied that the recommendations either have been or are in the process of being fully implemented?
Yes.