I wish to share my time with Deputy Belton.
Adjournment Debate. - Dublin-Sligo Rail Line.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I raise this very important matter on the Adjournment for two reasons. First, as a result of the recent derailment of trains in counties Roscommon and Kerry people have become fearful about the train services provided by the State. The common denominator in the accidents on the Dublin-Westport, Dublin-Killarney and Dublin-Sligo lines is that they occurred on the part of the track on old timber sleepers. The entire line should be made up of continuous welded track.
The second reason is the condition of the Dublin-Sligo line, specifically the Mullingar-Sligo section. Earlier this year the Department of Public Enterprise announced that £12.5 million would be spent on the Dublin-Sligo rail line, with at least 50 per cent being expended on the Mullingar-Sligo section. A commitment was also given that the passenger journey times on the Sligo-Dublin line would be reduced to two hours and 45 minutes by 1999. Three weeks ago the general manager of the InterCity Passenger Service stated in a report in the Sligo Champion that Irish Rail did not have the resources to bring the Mullingar-Sligo section of the line up to standard and that the travel time targets would not be reached by 1999.
The people of Sligo, Leitrim and Mullingar regard this as an amazing statement given the commitment that much money would be spent on improving the line between Mullingar and Sligo. People wonder why the money to upgrade the line mysteriously stopped at Mullingar. The Minister for Public Enterprise represents Westmeath and perhaps the Pale has been extended from Kildare to Mullingar. I hope a Minister has not tried to stop funding being allocated to the rest of the country for reasons of political expediency.
I have only been in office four months.
I hope it is not a matter of political expediency.
I can tell the Deputy the reason. It is because of what Deputy Dukes did not do.
My constituents are distraught at the lack of a good rail service to Sligo.
I thank Deputy Reynolds for sharing his time with me. The Minister comes from Athlone and she knows the action taken on this issue in recent years, for example, public meetings, marches to Leinster House etc. The service from Mullingar to Sligo seems to be under threat and I ask the Minister to state if this is the case. Will she outline the action she proposes to take to supervise the spending of money on this stretch of the line to bring it up to the standard the people of these areas deserve? Trains are often overcrowded at weekends. There is an onus on the Minister to deal with this problem to ensure the people of Sligo, Leitrim and Longford have the service they deserve. As a former Deputy for County Longford——
Perhaps I will be Deputy for that county again.
It depends on the people.
It depends on the commission.
I hope I will not be disappointed with the Minister's answer tonight and her actions in the future.
I am operating on the basis of the Estimates negotiated by Deputy Dukes with the Department of Finance for the year 1997 and I do not accept Deputy Reynolds' accusation that I changed the way the money was to be spent. The budget for 1997 was negotiated by Deputy Dukes, who was a fine Minister.
The Deputy's statement that there is a clear comparison between the line at Knockcrockery and the Farranfore line is incorrect. He said that in both cases there is a permanent track, but the line at Farranfore was relaid last year with a jointed track. I accept the Deputy may not have known that and it is proper that I clarify it.
I am aware of the concerns of people who use railways further west from Athlone and Mullingar that that part of the rail system is not properly funded. It is not correct to suggest EU funding is being used exclusively on the Dublin to Mullingar line. I am delighted to have this opportunity to clarify the position.
European funding for the second stage of infrastructure development on the rail network comes from the Structural Fund and the Cohesion Fund; the bulk of the funding on the Sligo line comes from the Cohesion Fund. It is important to put this funding in context. Prior to the negotiation of the current EU supported programme, financial constraints had led to significant under-investment. In 1993 the investment needs for the entire railway network were estimated at £800 million.
The operational programme for transport recognised that railways required an integrated investment and development programme. Between 1994 and 1999 total investment in the mainline rail network will amount to £275 million. This investment will be focused on track renewal, signalling systems and rolling stock. All major lines are included in the proposed investment programme. The main part of the funding for the Dublin-Sligo line, for track and signalling upgrading work generally, comes from the Cohesion Fund. The Dublin-Sligo line was successfully included as part of the trans-European network and in an EU co-financed investment programme £73 million was provided for the period 1996-9. Of that amount £62 million has been allocated. A sum of £14 million was allocated to the signalling system on four routes, including the Dublin-Sligo route. This money is being used to replace the old mechanical system with a new, modern, cost effective and centralised control system.
In regard to track work, investment has been concentrated on the Dublin to Mullingar section. The Deputy seems to think I have cast an evil eye on the matter and demanded that the money be provided for the Dublin to Mullingar section. A stringent socio-economic cost benefit analysis must be undertaken before any investment proposals are approved by the EU. That proposal was made by the previous Government. In the case of the Dublin-Sligo line, independent consultants retained by the EU Commission recommended that EU co-financed investment should be undertaken on the Dublin-Mullingar section.
Is the Minister claiming credit for that?
No, I can claim credit only for what I am going to do.
The Minister, without interruption, please.
Additional work is being carried out by Iarnród Éireann and funded from its resources. I understand from the company that critical sections of the track between Mullingar and Sligo are to be improved. There are fewer speed restrictions and the quality of service the company can provide has improved significantly.
As I mentioned at the outset, it has already been acknowledged that £800 million investment is needed for the total network. The 1994-99 programme of £275 million represents a tremendous start. We must now look to the future. I have asked CIE to prepare and prioritise investment plans for the mainline and suburban rail networks in the context of securing EU or other funding. The railways have served the country well over many years and through difficult times. Like the previous Government, this Government is committed to continuing investment in the rail network. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to answer Deputy Reynolds' query.
The Minister did not refer to the overcrowding issue.
People could be told they cannot get on trains, but I do not know if that would serve them well. We need extra rolling stock and carriages.
Will the Minister address that matter?