Vol. 421 No. 9
16 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if it is intended to establish a Rail Commission; if so, if she will outline the terms of reference of the Commission, its functions and proposed membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I have no plans to establish a railways commission. A detailed assessment of the strategic options for the future of the railway is being carried out at present by CIE in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Finance. Consultants have been engaged by my Department to assist in this work. The consultants are expected to report later this summer. The results of this work will form an important element in the formulation of an investment programme for the development of the railway. I intend to vigorously pursue the possibilities of EC assistance from the Structural Fund and the proposed Cohesion Fund for such an investment programme.
Would the Minister not agree that the EC would be keen to make sure that any funds voted through the Structural Fund for developing track and signalling systems are actually spent on track and signalling systems, that they would be concerned that moneys might find their way into capital expenditure other than that for which they have been targeted amd that a commission would guarantee the actual sourcing and the spending of the funds?
I do not understand what the Deputy is getting at. Any moneys targeted by the European Commission to be spent on rail development in this country have been spent on rail development. There is no question in the mind of the Commission or anybody else about the way in which the money is spent — it is spent on that for which it was got. There is no proposal to change that method of doing business in the future.
The Minister made reference to the consultants' report. When does she expect that the report will be completed? Is this not somewhat similar to the position at Shannon in that all the facts are known? The capital requirement for continuous welded rail and for automatic signalling is known. It is simply a case of committing resources.
The consulants' report will be available, it is hoped, by the end of August. The consultants were commissioned to assist both my own departmental officials and CIE in the preparation of a very full analysis of the difficulties, problems and proposals that need examination.
Will it be published?
That is something I have not thought about, but I shall certainly consider it.
