Dan Neville
Question:26 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will establish the promised rail safety board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22480/00]
Written Answers. - Rail Safety.
The general scheme of a Bill to establish an independent railway safety board is currently being drafted by my Department. I expect to be in a position before Christmas to seek Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a Bill based on the general scheme. I am aiming to have this legislation enacted in 2001 with a view to the establishment of the railway safety board immediately thereafter.
My proposals for a railway safety board, independent of my Department, go beyond the original IRMS recommendations. In its review of railway safety in Ireland, IRMS recommended that the railway inspectorate remain within the Department, but with strengthened powers.
I have also acted on the IRMS recommendation to increase the size of the railway inspectorate from one to three. Consultants are nearing completion of a study which will advise on the staffing and structure of the planned railway safety board.