Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 6

Written Answers. - Good Friday Agreement.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

104 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the advances she envisages in relation to the development of a high speed rail service from Dublin to Derry; the meetings, if any, she has planned with the relevant authorities in the Northern Ireland Executive on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26832/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The Good Friday Agreement identifies strategic transport planning as one of a number of areas for North-South co-operation. No meetings have yet been arranged with my counterpart, the Minister for Regional Development, in the Northern Ireland Executive. The future development of cross-Border public transport links would be among the matters I would wish to raise at any future meeting. However, the development of a high speed rail service from Dublin to Derry would be a day-to-day matter for Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland Railways.

Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland Railways have recently completed the upgrading of the railway service between Dublin and Belfast. The new jointly operated enterprise service has resulted in more frequent and faster journey times between both cities. Scheduled weekday journey times are now under two hours.

Northern Ireland Railways is responsible for the operation of all services between Belfast and Derry. The line has slower speeds than the Belfast-Dublin line and Northern Ireland Railways is currently upgrading the trackwork. It also plans to re-open the former Antrim to Bleach Green line which will give a more direct route and reduce journey time between Derry and Belfast. Connections are currently provided to some enterprise services and these will be improved when the Antrim-Bleach Green line is re-opened. I understand the railway companies currently have no plans to provide through services.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

105 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the talks, if any, planned with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on the development of a Dublin to Derry air service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26833/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

There are no talks planned at present with my transport counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive specifically on the development of a Dublin to Derry air service. As I mentioned at the North-South Ministerial Council which I attended yesterday, 13 December 1999, I intend to meet soon all Ministers with whom I have an overlap of interest to review the possibilities for ongoing co-operation in the transport, energy and communications sectors. As the Deputy will be aware, I have already met my counterpart on energy matters.

The Deputy will also be aware that under the peace and reconciliation programme, a total of £1.528 million in aid was allocated to Derry airport in July 1999 from my Department's Vote towards the cost of a runway extension and assorted works. This is being matched by a similar grant from the Northern Ireland side.

While the provision of air services on specific routes is now essentially a matter for the commercial judgment of airlines, it will continue to be my policy to encourage the development of as many air services as possible to and from all Irish airports, and I would welcome a service between Dublin and Derry.