Vol. 500 No. 6
42 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 234 of 27 January 1999, her attention has been drawn to the fact that increasing the level of services on the Maynooth suburban line is dependent on signalling work in Dublin city centre; the reason this work cannot be brought forward rather than leaving it to be dealt with in a post-2000 developmental programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4556/99]
Iarnród Éireann has advised me that they are confident that when the infrastructural work on the Maynooth line is completed and the new rail cars delivered and commissioned, the company will be in a position to provide additional services in the morning and evening peak to and from the city.
Further improvements will be possible once the city centre signalling project is completed. Had it been possible to complete this work in the pre 2000 programme it would have been included in the application for EU and Exchequer funding. However this was not possible for two reasons. First, there is a limit to the amount of work that can be carried out simultaneously given the need to maintain a reasonable level of suburban services during construction. Second, there is a substantial lead-in time for design and pre-planning work in relation to the city centre signalling project which meant it could not have been completed prior to 2000.
43 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that current health and safety guidelines apply and are operable in respect of commuter rail passenger services on all routes; if the quality of rolling stock and station facilities comply with the relevant standards; the measures of enhancement, if any, she proposes to initiate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4554/99]
Compliance with applicable health and safety guidelines in respect of all rail passenger services is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have no statutory function in the matter.
However, the Deputy is 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.
In response to the report the Government immediately appointed a high level task force comprised of officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and CIE to prepare a report with prioritised recommendations to address the issues identified in the review.
