Vol. 512 No. 3
114 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that adequate standards exist and are adhered to in respect of all rail transport services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26246/99]
I have no statutory function in relation to the setting of standards for rail transport services. Responsibility for ensuring safety on the rail network is a matter for Iarnród Éireann.
One of the key recommendations of the independent review of railway safety in Ireland was the need to develop and document engineering standards and planned maintenance and inspection programmes.
That work is now well under way within Iarnród Éireann as part of the implementation of the five year, £430 million railway safety programme approved by the Government in March. It forms the basis for a structured and formalised approach to safety management and training.
