Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 2

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin-Belfast Rail Line.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

16 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if any decisions have been taken on the future of the Dublin-Belfast rail line, arising from the draft report on the line from consultants engaged by the British and Irish Governments and the European Commission; if any fresh consideration has been given to the re-allocation of resources within the peripherality programme funding or from elsewhere in the Community support framework to allow upgrading of the Dublin-Belfast rail link; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Richard Bruton

Question:

22 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether finance will be made available to upgrade the railway line and services between Dublin and Belfast; if he will outline the anticipated investment which he is prepared to commit in future years towards the upgrading of this line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

64 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will outline the current position regarding the plans to upgrade the Dublin-Belfast rail link; if the funding for this has been secured from the EC; and the time-scale he has in mind for these works.

Mr. S. Brennan

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 22 and 64 together.

The operational programme on peripherality provides for a detailed study of the costs and benefits of the proposed upgrading of the Dublin-Belfast rail line. This study was commissioned jointly by my Department, the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment and the European Commission.

The consultancy study has recently been completed and it is being examined at present by my Department and by the UK and EC authorities. I have expressed my personal support for this project in a number of fora, including the Anglo-Irish Conference and, earlier this week, the Anglo-Irish Inter-Parliamentary body. While I am satisfied that some financial assistance would be available from the EC for the project, I am seeking maximum assistance from that source. I expect to report to the Government shortly on the outcome of the joint study and on the funding possibilities for the project.

Mr. Garland

Would the Minister agree that the rail link is symbolic and means much more than just a railway line? It is a crucial link between the North and the South. Will the Minister give an unequivocal commitment to fight every inch of the way to get funding for this rail link?

Mr. S. Brennan

I share the Deputy's view that it is very symbolic and it is very important to maintain the line. The estimated cost in the consultants' report is £65 million and approximately £42 million of that would have to come from the resources in the Republic. The consultants envisage that we would require very substantial grants. They suggest that the line would have to attract grants in the region of 65 per cent to make it viable. As I said, in my reply, the EC, UK and Irish authorities are studying ways of progressing it.

Mr. Stafford

Is the Minister aware of any plans to use the railway line to transport freight from Dublin to Belfast and on to Larne? Has he been given any indication of such a proposal?

Mr. S. Brennan

I do not at this point in time but I will have the matter examined and I will communicate with the Deputy, if that is in order.