Vol. 533 No. 3
48 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she expects to receive the report from Irish Rail on the two rail incidents at Kiltoom, County Roscommon; the interim measures taken by Irish Rail and her Department to ensure that such an incident is not repeated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8818/01]
Iarnrod Éireann has advised that it expects an interim report of its formal inquiry into the accident of 22 December to be ready by mid April 2001. In relation to the accident of 26 February 2001, the company expects that the interim report will be ready by 6 April 2001. The chief railway inspecting officer has requested that Iarnród Éireann provide him with the findings of these reports as soon as they become available. He has also asked that the findings of the final reports be provided to him as soon as these are finalised.
In relation to interim measures taken by Iarnród Éireann and my Department, the chief railway inspecting officer visited Kiltoom level crossing on 19 February and noted that Iarnród Éireann had imposed a temporary speed restriction of 25 miles per hour through the level crossing. On 20 February, I directed the railway inspecting officers of my Department to carry out an inquiry under section 7 of the Railways Regulations Act, 1871 into the cause of the railway accident on 16 February, 2001 at Kiltoom level crossing and into the previous accidents at this level crossing. My Department is currently in consultation with the Chief State Solicitor's Office concerning the inquiry.
