Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Rail Safety.

Austin Currie

Question:

45 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if, further to the Adjournment debate of 11 November 1999, the circumstances in which a blind person and his dog were pushed off the platform at Tara Street railway station have been fully examined; if so, the result of the examination particularly in relation to the closed circuit television unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4024/00]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

The circumstances of the incident on 8 November 1999 at Tara Street Station to which the Deputy refers have been reviewed by a railway inspecting officer in my Department.

Iarnród Éireann has notified the railway inspecting officer that, following this incident, the company carried out a review of its emergency procedures at Tara Street. Following this review, additional procedures have been, or are in the process of being, put in place to deal with crowd movements and build up. In particular, a platform supervisor will be on duty during peak times every day.

In relation to the closed circuit television unit, Iarnród Éireann has advised the railway inspecting officer that crowd numbers are monitored on the platforms at Tara Street by a CCTV monitor at the entrance point. Where there is an excessive build up of crowd numbers, passengers can be restricted from going up to the platforms.

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed to the chief railway inspecting officer that the CCTV system monitoring the platform was fully functional and in use at the time of the incident. However, the member of staff responsible for monitoring the platform judged that the crowd build-up was not excessive at the time of the incident and passengers were not therefore restricted from entering the platform. I understand that safety consultants have been commissioned by Iarnród Éireann to review its procedures and to look particularly at the issue of crowd control.

While the safety of rail operations is the statutory responsibility of Iarnród Éireann, passengers should exercise proper caution and due care for themselves and other passengers when boarding or travelling on trains.

The railway inspecting officers will monitor emergency procedures in Tara Street on an ongoing basis, and in other stations if they deem it necessary. Such monitoring will include visits to the station at peak periods to observe the procedures in practice.