Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 5

Written Answers. - Limerick-Claremorris Railway Line.

Robert Molloy

Question:

11 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has received communications from Iarnród Éireann regarding the future use of the railway line from Limerick to Claremorris; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23495/96]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

89 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he supports the threatened Limerick-Claremorris freight service. [23625/96]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 89 together.

Decisions in relation to the operation of services on any rail line are day to day commercial matters which fall entirely within the responsibility of the boards of management of CIE and Iarnród Éireann. I have no function in relation to such decisions. Iarnród Éireann's position regarding the future of the Limerick to Claremorris line was outlined by my predecessor in his reply of 14 November 1996 to a Dáil question tabled by Deputy Noel Ahern when he indicated that the company had not taken a decision to close the line and had no plans to do so.

Iarnród Éireann also confirmed that it is the company's aim that freight traffic on the line should continue, provided that the right business conditions can be created and sustained. However, the company recognises that it faces very strong competition on the Limerick-Claremorris corridor from the road haulage sector, which enjoys advantages in terms of cost and flexibility. The company has no option but to face up to the commercial realities of the situation. It must get its costs down if it is to compete successfully in this market.

Iarnród Éireann has indicated that, in the context of the company's cost reduction plan, potential savings of £250,000 per annum have been identified which could be achieved through a transfer of freight traffic on the Limerick-Claremorris line to other rail lines. This underlines the urgency of making substantial reductions in the cost base of the operation. Iarnród Éireann has stressed that it is anxious to secure the future of commercial freight operations on the line by reducing costs, and especially the costs associated with maintaining the line in full operational order. I welcome this positive approach and would wish to see the company arrive at a position where the future of freight traffic on this line would not only be maintained at existing levels but could be developed where suitable commercial opportunties could be identified. In this regard, my predecessor requested Iarnród Éireann to engage in an intensive marketing drive with the aim of realising the full commercial potential of the Limerick-Claremorris line.

Both management and unions have been urged to enter into meaningful negotiations in a spirit of partnership and co-operation with a view to agreeing on ways and means to achieve the cost savings envisaged by Iarnród Éireann and the other CIE companies in their viability plans. The aim should be to meet these challenging targets by securing improvements in productivity and efficency rather than by curtailing services.