I will call the Deputies who tabled questions to the Minister for Public Enterprise in the order in which they were submitted to my office.
Private Notice Questions. - County Roscommon Train Derailment.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise to outline the information, if any, she has received from Iarnród Éireann in relation to the cause of the train derailment on 8 November 1997 at Knockcroghery, County Roscommon and the steps, if any, she is taking to ensure that future accidents are prevented on railway tracks which are not included in the EU co-financed investment programme.
(Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason for the weekend train crash in County Roscommon; the recommendations, if any, that exist in relation to public safety contained in the report of the investigating team; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the investigation into the derailment of the Dublin to Westport train last weekend has been completed; if she will confirm the cause of the accident and the safety measures Iarnród Éireann will introduce to prevent any further accidents occurring on this rail line; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the information, if any, she has received from Iarnród Éireann in relation to the cause of the train derailment on 8 November 1997 in County Roscommon and the steps, if any, she is taking to avoid a repetition of this incident.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will make a statement arising from the derailment of the Dublin to Westport train on 8 November 1997 and if she will reassure the public that no danger exists in their travelling on this line.
I thank the Deputies for tabling their questions and affording us an opportunity to discuss this matter publicly in the House.
I received a report on Monday from the railway inspecting officer who visited the scene of the accident on Saturday. On Tuesday I met the chairman and senior executives of Iarnród Éireann. Based on the report and discussions I want to outline first the facts of the case.
The 08.25 Heuston to Westport passenger train was derailed at approximately 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, 8 November, at a point between Knockcroghery and Roscommon town. The initial point of derailment was approximately 250 metres beyond Curry level crossing, with various sections of the train coming to a halt over the next 500 metres. The train in question comprised a modern 201 class locomotive with seven modern mark 3 carriages. The locomotive remained on the track but all the carriages were derailed. The train divided with the result that the front of the train travelled 400 metres beyond the point where the four rear carriages came to rest. There was extensive damage to the track and rolling stock, although damage interiorly was minimal.
Fifteen people, all passengers on the train, were taken to Roscommon Hospital. Eleven of those were treated in the casualty department and discharged. There were four admissions, mainly for observation, and two of the patients have since been discharged. I understand the remaining two will be discharged this evening.
Iarnród Éireann has established an internal joint inquiry board to investigate the circumstances of the accident. It commenced its work yesterday and it is expected that the board will make a preliminary report available in three weeks. The report will be reviewed by the Department's railway inspecting officers. Initial indications suggest the accident was caused by a broken rail joint.
I emphasise that the implementation of safety related measures is paramount in Iarnród Éireann and at the meeting yesterday I emphasised the paramount importance of safety measures.
Will the Minister agree it was a miracle that this derailment did not have horrific fatal consequences? Is she aware that this line was originally constructed in 1862 and that the last major realignment of this permanent way was in the 1930s? Will she agree also that in this case there was probably metal fatigue in the fishplate, the train derailed and the sleepers snapped like matches? Given that there is no provision under the co-financed programme for this route beyond Athlone, or the Sligo-Mullingar or Dublin-Rosslare routes, between now and 1999, will the Minister consider having an independent international review of safety carried out immediately to assure those of us on this side of the House, and herself, as to the safety of our railways and to provide a basis for a comprehensive investment programme so that we can all sleep easy knowing that there will be no such recurrence?
I agree with the Deputy that this crash was potentially very serious. I visited the scene on Sunday and spent a considerable time talking to many of the people working on the line. I agree that potentially it was a very serious incident. Thank God it was not more serious. I extend sympathy to those who were injured and my admiration to the emergency services who acted with great speed. I also admire those who worked on the train, including the driver, who kept their cool.
Regarding the international review of safety, I will give consideration to an input from some consultancy on a European wide basis when I receive the report of the internal inquiry. It is necessary to do this. Mr. Pat Lynch, a member of the board, has been appointed by the board as head of the safety committee which has met and begun its full investigation.
I know about the laying of the permanent way. It is a matter of history when the permanent ways were laid. There is a method within Iarnród Éireann for examining on a regular basis all lines and in particular all tension areas, namely the fish-plates or joints, which are inspected twice weekly. This particular joint was inspected and reported upon on the Friday preceding the Saturday on which the accident occurred.
(Mayo): I thank the Minister for her reply. Is she aware of the chaos that invariably ensues on platform 5 at Heuston Station every weekend? This is the platform from which the train to Westport and Ballina departs. A long queue of people is left waiting while the train is being cleaned but when the white flag is raised there is a massive stampede of people because of the huge shortage of seats.
It is like the wild west.
(Mayo): The situation is very serious. There is a human logjam right through the train with people who have paid the full price for a ticket standing in the aisles and between the carriages from Dublin to Roscommon. Because of second hand and substandard materials, with replacement tracks and sleepers taken from lines which have been closed in some cases — something that can be confirmed — when the train crosses the Shannon there are speed variations from 30 to 80 miles per hour. In this case there would have been a holocaust if it had not been for the fact that the accident happened at an off peak period and did not occur near a steep incline.
In the light of Deputy Yates's statement that this does not qualify or was not included in the original plan submitted to Brussels in 1994 and the ongoing mid-term review, will the Minister consider having this project included for 50:50 cohesion funding?
Deputy Higgins spoke of chaos on the platform and long queues waiting and then stampeding. I am aware of this and it is worrying that if people had been standing between the carriages the accident could have been more serious. However, there was a low capacity of 180 passengers. I spoke to the officials in Iarnród Éireann yesterday about this and the solution would involve a curtailment of the numbers who could board the train or the sale of tickets. The Deputy mentioned that each person had paid for their ticket and if so they are entitled to get on the train.
Regarding the speed variations, this train was travelling at the allowable speed for that stretch so there was no question of speeding or trying to make up time. It was a few minutes late but nothing of any consequence.
The Deputy asked that co-financing under the Cohesion Fund be sought for lines other than the main ones which have been substantially invested in by this method. They were originally turned down under that programme but they could be re-examined.
This was an accident waiting to happen and it was not surprising given that the tracks were second-hand. People in the west are regarded as second class citizens. Even the media coverage suggested that because the accident happened in the west it did not matter. If it had happened on the track into Dublin, RTÉ, Channel 4 and every media station in the country would have reported it. The people of the west deserve better. The accident last weekend was a warning. If it had happened on a Friday or Sunday night, 30, 40 or 50 people would have been killed and there would have been more inquiries and tribunals.
What plans does the Government have to invest funding in this line as a result of an accident last weekend in which people were nearly killed in a second-hand train? Public representatives have been talking to Iarnród Éireann officials for many years and they do not care about us. All they care about is setting up Luas and the Dublin to Belfast line. As a public representative of the west, I have had enough. I want funding provided because the next accident will not be a few people in hospital but a major tragedy. I intend raising this matter many times in the Dáil. I want to know what plans the Minister and the Department of Finance have to provide proper funding in the budget on December 3.
It is the same with the Structural Funds; everything goes to the east coast and there is nothing for the west. We got away with a warning but we may not the next time. If funding is not provided, I want an independent investigation to see if the line is safe. I know it is not safe. How can it be when it is comprised of sleepers taken up in the east and laid in the west? If they are not good enough for the east, they are not good enough for the west.
I appreciate Deputy Ring's strong feelings on the matter. He said the media treated the issue as if the people of the west were second class citizens. It was the second item on the 6 p.m. news, the first being the tragedy in Westmeath where a husband and wife were murdered in their home. There was extensive coverage of the accident on Monday's papers; it was probably too late to make Sunday's. I know how the Deputy feels but I think the accident received extensive coverage.
The Deputy asked about Government funding. The previous Government, of which his party was the main partner, has been out of office only four months, but I do not want to make a point of that as I acknowledge the accident could have been very serious. Funding is allocated to Iarnród Éireann in a general budget and its disbursement is a matter for it and its general planners. I am sure the Deputy's comments and strong feelings and those of Dáil Éireann will be brought to its attention and I intend to do that myself.
If this accident had happened 12 hours earlier, the train would have been overcrowded and we would have had a major disaster on our hands. Has the Minister any plans to reduce the overcrowding on trains by either increasing rolling stock or the number of departures on the Westport, Sligo and Galway lines? This would reduce the overcrowding and eliminate the intolerable situation which mainly affects young people and students.
Has the Minister received a report on the recent tragic accident where a young girl was killed at an unmanned level crossing at Dunamon, County Roscommon, only a few miles down the line from where the other accident happened? If so, what new proposals does she have to increase the safety at this type of level crossing?
A number of things can happen as regards overcrowding on the Ballina-Westport and Sligo lines. Rolling stock can be increased, for which Iarnród Éireann would have to arrange within its budget. The number of people on a train can be limited if they are to travel in safety. All travel, by road, rail or air, involves the chance of accident but, if safety is to be maximised, numbers must be reduced. That causes problems at 5.30 on Friday evening when young people want to go home and it is something CIE will have to address.
I had a discussion with Iarnród Éireann on the issue of level crossings. The Deputy will know from the Ballybay crossing outside Athlone in his constituency that there is an ongoing programme of changing level crossings from manual to automatic. The chief rails engineer has specific duties in this regard.
I will receive the report of the inquiry on the young woman losing her life at a level crossing at the same time as I receive the report of the inquiry into this accident. The crossing was one where a person was required to be conscious of approaching trains. It was a sad incident which occurred not far from the scene of the other accident.
I thank the Minister for her reply. This matter has been ongoing for some time and has been the responsibility of various Governments. He who is in Brussels put his head out the window at Manulla junction years ago and shouted to the corners of the province that the Supertrain had arrived.
He took the gravy train instead.
Given that even the Minister cannot wave a magic wand and deal with the matter instantaneously, I wish to make four points instead. There should be no reason people should not have a more practical, efficient and competitive service. The situation in Heuston Station on Fridays, the inability to book seats when one can do so almost everywhere else in Europe and the impossibility of providing trolley service on the train because of crowded aisles is not good enough and could be improved.
Are these questions?
This is a question. Can the Minister give an assurance there is no danger to the transport of acrylonitrile for the remainder of Asahi's duration in Mayo? There was a derailment a number of years ago but there was no threat to life.
Yesterday's Irish Independent carried an advertisement for Iarnród Éireann's City Gold and refers to the ability——
It is not in order to quote at Question Time.
The advertisement refers to the customer's ability to spread notes and operate fax machines in every carriage and to have laptops and briefcases provided. It is impossible to do business in a Western sense given the level of service on this train. The Estimates are being published today. Given that this will not be an EU funded plan, at least for the moment, and that someone must do something about it, can the Minister readjust the Estimates within her Department's Vote to provide Exchequer funding to deal with this problem immediately?
The first matter raised by the Deputy is one of practicality. Better arrangements for booking tickets in advance is an operational matter for any company. I will bring it to the attention of Iarnród Éireann.
I wish to give a guarantee on the Asahi derailment. I do not have all the facts but I am familiar with the incident and I will get back to the Deputy on this matter.
The facility to operate laptops on the City Gold service is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in its efforts to attract customers. Perhaps the Deputy availed of it in the past and would be glad to have access to it again. However, it has no bearing on the matter we are discussing.
The Estimates are printed and are being commented on by the Minister for Finance. Within the considerable subsidy given to Iarnród Éireann, both by this and previous Governments, a clear effort is being made to manage the system with regard to line and carriage replacement, signalling, infrastructure and so on. This is a complex, multi-faceted operation and moneys must be given to fund it.
Deputy Ring stated how the west of Ireland gets a second class service and second class equipment. The cars on the train were of the latest design and the highest quality. This provided a buttressing effect and a safety net in combination with the steep embankment. The carriages were modern.
They were secondhand. The Minister can check that.
The Minister said she met Iarnród Éireann executives yesterday. Did they tell her, as they told me, that the only way to prevent a recurrence of Saturday's accident is to have continuous welded track as opposed to jointed track? This applies on Dublin-Belfast, Dublin-Cork and our mainline routes. Will she report to the House and bring a memorandum to Cabinet to ensure that such accidents are prevented by having continuous welded track on all radial routes?
I had a full discussion with my officials and Iarnród Éireann executives. This measure would cost several hundred million pounds.
Eighty five million pounds.
The Deputy should allow me to finish. It would cost £275 million to convert all our track to continuous track. That is a mammoth task. The Estimates are printed. Safety is of paramount importance within the considerable subsidies given to Iarnród Éireann. I stressed this to them even though I did not need to; they are very aware of it.
Ireland has one of the lowest rates of rail fatalities in Europe. I am not saying this is wonderful and we should clap each other on the back. We would prefer if there were no fatalities. However, I cannot guarantee there will never be a fatality on Irish rail. I would be foolish to do so as would CIE. CIE is endeavouring to bring safety standards to the highest possible level. I assure the House that I emphasised the safety aspects to the executives yesterday. We will make the report findings public within the legal due process. I will bear in mind Deputy Yates's suggestion that a European consultancy group should look at the results of the report.
The Minister should inform the House it is not possible for CIE——
The Deputy should put a question.
Would the Minister agree it is not possible for Iarnród Éireann to have the highest level of safety? Would she also agree that trains have to travel at 15 miles per hour on some tracks because they are so dangerous? Money is required to make the railways safe. The £200 million referred to by the Minister is the cost of building, approximately, 12 miles of motorway. Very large numbers of people use the trains and money is not invested. As a result, travelling by train is dangerous. Does the Minister agree?
On funding for the Sligo-Dublin line——
This matter does not refer to the Sligo-Dublin line.
It is the same line, the western line.
The Deputy should make his question relevant to the matter being discussed.
Is the Minister aware that EU funding was stopped for lines beyond Mullingar and that there is a similar situation on the lines from Mullingar to Sligo? Is it possible to spend some of the £12 million EU funding on the section of the line between Mullingar and Sligo which is in a disastrous condition? There are secondhand sleepers on most of the line.
Did Deputy Moffatt get money in the Estimates?
Within its remit and the taxpayers's money given to Iarnród Éireann, I am satisfied every effort is made to keep all of the complex issues regarding rail track, carriages, signalling and infrastructure in proportion.
What does that mean?
European funding did not extend to the line beyond Mullingar. I hasten to add that I had nothing to do with that. The rest of the line is subject to domestic funding. Europe did not regard it as suitable for co-financing. I will ask Iarnród Éireann to reply directly to the Deputy.