Vol. 519 No. 5
117 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will request Iarnrod Éireann to provide a foot-bridge alongside the railway bridges at Athenry, County Galway, on the Tuam Road and the Monivea Road; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14373/00]
I have no function in relation to this matter. It is a day to day operational matter for Iarnród Éireann.
118 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the present maximum daily passenger numbers on the Athenry-Galway rail route; the extent to which this could be improved if a more commuter orientated service was provided from this station; and her views on whether such a service, if provided, would alleviate traffic congestion on the Galway city routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14374/00]
The provision of rail passenger services is a day-to-day matter for Iarnród Éireann. However, I understand that the company has no immediate plans to operate a commuter train service between Athenry and Galway.
In this regard I note that the recently published Galway transportation and planning study, which was commissioned by Galway Corporation and Galway County Council, did not identify any potential for developing a rail commuting service on this route. In general the study recommends that the public transport strategy for the study area be based on bus rather than rail services.
The company has informed me that the daily passenger numbers travelling between Athenry and Galway are quite small at the moment – ticket sales of less than 300 per week.
