I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 83 and 84 together.
Day-to-day responsibility for all matters relating to rail safety is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. However, the Deputy will be aware from the recently published report entitled A Review of Railway Safety in Ireland, that the condition of much of the track, signalling and other infrastructure of Iarnród Éireann is poor. The report highlights 17 sections of track on which passengers are most at risk. This includes the Mullingar to Dublin line.
In response to the report the Government immediately appointed a high level task force comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and representatives of CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann to prioritise recommendations on necessary rail safety expenditure requirements. The task force report will be completed by end January 1999. In the meantime CIE has begun implementation of the report's recommendations giving particular attention to the immediate safety needs identified by the consultants. Pending consideration by Government of the task force report, CIE will undertake borrowings to finance the implementation of the immediate safety measures.