Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 8

Written Answers. - Railway Service.

Austin Deasy

Question:

17 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his views on whether there is a future for a railway system in Ireland; and if he will give details of the financial performance of Iarnród Éireann for the last full year for which figures are available.

Jim Higgins

Question:

38 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the amount of money provided by his Department in 1994 to Iarnród Éireann for track renewal, upkeep, the provision of additional locomotives and rolling stock for the Dublin/Westport/ Ballina line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peter Barry

Question:

39 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when rail commuter services in Cork will be upgraded and extended; the reason for the non-allocation of funds to Cork commuter services from the EU cash injection of £276 million for the updating of rail services; if he has received proposals regarding the Cork rail commuter plan; if so, if these have been incorporated in any plan that is being forwarded to the EU for funding; if the Cork rail commuter plan has his full support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim Higgins

Question:

41 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has received a request for a meeting with commercial and community groups from the catchment area being served by the Dublin to Westport/Ballina railway line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

42 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will ensure that Iarnród Éireann will provide a rail car for the Tralee/Mallow line as a matter of urgency.

Paul Bradford

Question:

80 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will give an assurance that the Cobh/Cork railway line will be fully upgraded; when the upgrading will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 38, 39, 41, 42 and 80 together.

The Programme for a Partnership Government acknowledges the valuable contribution that the existing railway network makes to balanced regional development. In keeping with the Government's strong commitment to the railway network, the National Development Plan includes provision for an EU assisted investment programme of £185 million on the upgrading of the existing mainline railway network. In addition, a further £90 million approximately of uncofinanced investment is proposed over the period subject to the resources available to CIE. The investment programme which covers all the major lines on the inter-urban network will include expenditure on track renewal, new signalling systems and modern rolling stock.

These proposals are under discussion at present with the European Commission in the context of the draft Operational Programme on Transport.

With regard to the Dublin to Westport/Ballina line, I have received requests for meetings from commercial and community groups from the catchment area served by the line including the Western Region of the Chamber of Commerce. Local concern may stem from the fact that some lines including the Dublin-Westport/Ballina line have been included for development under the National Development Plan on the basis of noncofinanced expenditure. I wish to emphasise however that all major lines have been included for development under the plan and there is therefore no question of the Dublin-Westport/Ballina railway line or any other line in the network being downgraded. In these circumstances, I felt that no useful purpose would be served by arranging a meeting with commercial or community groups about the line in question. The allocation by CIE of capital resources in 1994 for the Dublin-Westport/Ballina line is a matter for the CIE Group entirely. Similarly, the allocation of Exchequer support for services among the various lines is also a matter for the CIE Group.

There are no proposals in the National Development Plan for the upgrading of the Cork-Cobh railway line. This does not mean, however, that services on that line or indeed other local services and branch lines will not be improved by Iarnród Éireann as and when resources permit.

Deputy Deasy asked me about Iarnród Éireann's financial performance. The report and accounts of CIE and the operating subsidiaries for the last full year for which figures have been published, that is 1992, have already been presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas. For the information of the Deputy, Iarnród Éireann recorded a surplus of £4.6 million in 1992 after State grant of £90.4 million.