May I share time with Deputy Bradford?
Adjournment Debate. - Midleton (Cork) Rail Link.
Yes.
I thank the Minister for coming into the House. I want to bring to his attention a proposal which I think he will find exciting and innovative. I ask him to spend a little time examining this proposal. I know his time is limited, but I am sure that when he appraises the suggestions I am about to make, he will agree that a case exists for seeking funds from Europe or elsewhere to make these proposals a reality. I speak of course of reopening the rail link to Carrigtwohill and Midleton in east County Cork.
The commuter service to Midleton and Youghal closed in 1963 and the rail line closed completely in 1981. Between 1963 and 1981 the line was used to transport sugar beet. I am told the line opened specially in 1988 because Midleton won the all-Ireland hurling final. Therefore, the rail line was functioning only ten years ago.
In Midleton and its environs there has been an increase in population from approximately 15,000 in 1966 to 21,000 in 1991. In 1995 the primary school population in the greater Midleton area, including Youghal, was well over 5,000. The last two years has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new houses in east County Cork. Midleton, in particular, has become a dormitory town for Cork city.
Many people live in Midleton and work in Cork. Many of these people neither need nor want to bring their cars into the city. Many have approached me and asked me to bring the situation to the Minister's attention. The Minister will agree, I am sure, that any action we can take to decrease the number of cars travelling to Cork city each day must be welcome. I need not tell the Minister that the pressure on parking facilities and the increase in pollution are issues which must be tackled at national level, although this is a major issue in Cork city due to the increased number of cars going into the city.
I am aware that Iarnród Éireann already gets a large subvention from the State. However, the manager in Cork, Mr. Seán Cullinane, tells me there is no money available to Iarnród Éireann to tackle a project such as the one proposed. This is why I have brought the matter to the attention of the Minister and the House this evening.
The amount of money involved would be tiny compared to the amount of money which we are rightly putting into our road network. However, we are not looking for something on the scale of Luas for east County Cork. What we are looking for is very small in comparison, but the benefits to the region as a whole would be enormous.
The proposal to reopen the line is contained in the Cork County Council's county development plan. Both Midleton Urban District Councils and the chamber of commerce are anxious that progress be made on it. I understand that Cork Chamber of Commerce is also very much in favour of reopening the Cork-Midleton line.
As well as a commuter service, the rail link would benefit tourism and the entertainment industry both in Cork city and in east County Cork. Hundreds of people who travel to Cork city each day to shop, visit relatives and people in hospital could use the service as well as the hundreds who work or go to schools and colleges in the city. The benefits would work in the other direction too because east Cork is famous for its beaches and heritage attractions. From the Jameson Heritage Centre in Midleton to the round tower in Cloyne and the glorious beaches of Garryvoe and Youghal, there is potential for fashion, industry and tourism. East County Cork has it all except the rail link, and we want the rail link.
Anybody travelling to Cork from Midleton each day by car faces a huge problem with traffic congestion on the approach to Cork city. Delays of over an hour have been reported to me. The reopening of the rail link would be a popular and profitable decision. Iarnród Éireann needs the Minister's help. I ask him to try to find the relatively small amount of money that would make this a reality.
How much?
The upgraded Arrow link to Cobh has meant an increase of 25 per cent in passenger numbers. I am certain that the reopening of the link to Midleton, and eventually Youghal, would be successful also and serve to make the area more attractive for new industry and business. People could travel from east Cork to all parts of the country by using the rail network. Access to national sporting fixtures would also be possible by rail. I ask the Minister to use his imagination and sense of innovation to grant this proposal special favour.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to contribute.
The Deputy has one minute left.
Deputy Spring has obviously been watching the clock. He advises me that I have one minute and I want to use that minute to support the case made by my colleague, Deputy Stanton, who of course accepts that a better transport infrastructure to the eastern part of my constituency would allow me to make regular forays to that very valuable political territory on Saturday afternoons.
The Deputy is always welcome.
This proposal is very serious to the future economic development of east Cork region. Throughout the country we have been extremely remiss in the way we have allowed the railway lines to be seriously run down over the past 20 to 30 years. There has been significant investment in our mainline system, but if lines such as the Cork-Midleton line, which have been allowed to run down and finally close, were reopened it could do much to regenerate rural areas. Investment in rail is good value for money from an economic and social point of view, and it should receive the most serious consideration.
As Deputy Stanton pointed out, a rail link to east County Cork would benefit the region. It would take a huge number of cars off the road on a daily basis. It would be good from a tourism point of view and it could only do good for the region in general.
I know the funds available to Iarnród Éireann are such that it cannot make progress on such a project without Government investment. I am interested in hearing the Minister because I am sure other regions would be interested in attempting similar projects to that which we are seeking for Midleton and east Cork. I fully support the case made by Deputy Stanton and I look forward to a favourable reply from the Minister.
I thank Deputies Stanton and Bradford for raising this issue which is so important to their constituency.
This Government is committed to the development of an improved public transport system throughout the country. The railways have a valuable contribution to make and have shown a steady growth in passenger numbers in recent years. In An Action Programme for the Millennium, the Government identified investment in the mainline and suburban rail network as one of its key priorities in the transport area. The Minister's target is to deliver on the Government's objectives in a structured and orderly way. She wants to ensure safe and efficient railway services are provided in a cost effective and competitive manner. She has therefore asked that the investment needs be fully examined and is awaiting the relevant reports from CIE.
Many Deputies will appreciate the background to these investment needs studies. In 1993, the investment needs for the entire railway network were estimated at approximately £800 million over a 30 year period. The Operational Programme for Transport, which covers the period 1994-99, recognised that the railway required an integrated investment and development programme. This is needed to maintain and improve its competitiveness, to sustain existing demand and to create the potential for shift in demand and modal split towards the railway in the future.
Under the Operational Programme for Transport, total investment in the mainline rail network will amount to more than £275 million. This programme is being focused on track renewal, modern signalling systems and rolling stock. All major lines on the inter-urban mainline rail network are included. The work being undertaken will result in increased safety, lower operating costs and shorter journey times.
Improvements in suburban rail have also been provided for. Iarnród Éireann is committed to improving the rail service in the greater Cork area. A number of improvements have already been made. For example, two new diesel rail cars were introduced on the Cork-Cobh service in 1996 as part of the upgrading of services recommended in LUTS, the land use and transportation study. The Minister was pleased to note that passengers carried on the line increased by 20 per cent following the introduction of the railcars. She has no doubt that this augurs well for the future of public transport in Cork.
The Minister has a particular interest in this issue and has asked that the situation be reviewed in detail. In doing so she is aware that the LUTS discussed the possible extension of the commuter service to Midleton. The line was closed in the 1960s and the trackwork is no longer serviceable. Her understanding is that it would cost something of the order of £8 million to provide track, signalling and rolling stock.
There are other public transport issues to be considered in Cork and these include the development of Kent Station and the development of improved passenger and car-bus-rail interchange facilities. It is essential that priorities are identified quickly and that any development programme maximises scarce resources.
As the Minister pointed out before in this House, funding for infrastructure development comes from the EU under both the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund and from CIE resources. The Minister is now looking to future investment programmes using these sources of funding and has sought a comprehensive study of mainline rail investment needs covering track, signalling, rolling stock and stations. This study will specifically identify investment needs for the railway over the medium term and will also review rolling stock policy.
The Minister is satisfied, however, that the needs of the Cork area should be examined in particular detail and in an integrated way, as has been done in Dublin. She has asked that, in relation to Cork, the different strands of work being done on transport investment needs be brought together in a single document. This will cover the various public transport modes in Cork including bus and rail.
This work is nearing completion and the Minister expects to have the report shortly. This will provide the basis for developing an investment programme for the medium term and will contribute to the successful development of public transport infrastructure in the Cork area.
That was the longest "no" I have heard in the history of the Dáil. A thousand words were used to say "no" to the project.