Vol. 536 No. 1
10 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the ages of the existing Iarnród Éireann rolling stock; the number of new carriages on order; the scheduled delivery date; the lines on which they are to be deployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13204/01]
24 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the ages of the existing Iarnród Éireann locomotives; the number of new locomotives on order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13210/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 24 together.
Iarnród Éireann informs me that it operates a fleet of 430 passenger carrying vehicles. Some 80 DART carriages entered service in 1984 when the DART was introduced. Ten new DART carriages entered service late last year – there was nothing between 1984 and 2000, a period that involved all Governments – and a further 16 new DART carriages are currently entering service. In addition, a further 12 DART carriages have been ordered for delivery in 2002 and an option has been placed for a further 36 DART carriages.
Some 17 diesel rail cars were delivered in 1994 for use on the suburban rail service. A further 27 diesel rail cars entered service in 1999-2000. In addition, Iarnród Éireann has placed orders for a further 60 diesel rail cars under the national development plan for delivery in 2002. It has also placed an order for a further 20 additional diesel rail cars for delivery in 2003. Iarnród Éireann will have a total of 144 diesel rail cars in operation by the end of 2003.
Iarnród Éireann has a variety of further rolling stock which is used on mainline and suburban services. Some 44 carriages used on suburban services date from the 1960s. I understand that Iarnród Éireann plans to take these carriages out of service on the introduction of the new diesel rail cars. Some 71 carriages used on mainline and suburban services date from the 1970s. Of the remaining carriages used by Iarnród Éireann, 151 date from the 1980s and the 14 carriages used on the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise service date from the introduction of the service in 1997. The national development plan provides for 20 new mainline rail carriages and I understand that Iarnród Éireann has commenced the tendering process with regard to them.
Iarnród Éireann has advised me that it operates five types of locomotive. They were purchased in 1961, 1963, 1966, 1973 and 1994, respectively. The purchase of rolling stock is part of the £1 billion investment under the national development plan.
(Mayo): Does the Minister agree it is a terrible indictment in relation to the lack of investment in rail infrastructure that some locomotives and rail carriages are up to 50 years old?
It is terrible.
(Mayo): Some 44 carriages were built in the 1960s and 71 were built in the 1970s. I can testify, because I use the service frequently, that the most ramshackle, creaky, bone-shaking vehicles are more appropriate to downtown Calcutta than downtown Athlone or Westport.
Not downtown Ballyhaunis.
(Mayo): How many of the locomotives which date from 1961, 1963, 1966, 1973 and 1994 will be taken out of circulation? There is a need for a more efficient, speedier and reliable rail service than at present. The old locomotives are clapped out and should be scrapped. They should have taken out of circulation long ago. When will the new locomotives come on stream?
The question was multi-faceted and my reply was not only about locomotives. I understand they were purchased between 1961 and 1994 and there are no further locomotives on order at present. I do not know if that is correct but I will check it and contact the Deputy. As I have said on many occasions, there was a criminal neglect of the track network throughout the country. A total of £500 million has been spent on it and a rail safety audit will be carried out in two weeks. This will be the second or third audit of work done on the track. There was also criminal neglect in relation to carriages and CIE as a whole. However, £1 billion will be spent in this area.
I agree with the Deputy's point. I travelled to Sligo recently on a Sunday and I returned on the train that left at 6 p.m. While the journey was safe, there were many things I would have changed in relation to the infrastructure. However, work on the track to Sligo is almost complete. This work was most important because the track must be safe. The needs of CIE were neglected by all parties. Fortunately, resources are being provided now but, unfortunately, change takes time and is difficult. However, I share the Deputy's concerns and I will contact him about the locomotives.
I remind the Minister that her party has been in power for 61 of the last 70 years. The neglect to which she referred occurred primarily when her party was in power.
Closed them down.
Will the Minister join me in welcoming the change in right wing ideology which previously considered public transport bad and private transport good? There has been a conversion in right wing parties to the standard position of the Labour Party that public transport is good and it is not possible to move mass groups of people in private cars. This was attempted, but the result is gridlock in Dublin city. It took me two hours to make a 25 minute journey across the Kildare border this morning on a motorway that was built to enable cars move faster.
The Labour Party was in Government for 12 years.
Whenever a Labour Party in Europe has been in Government alone public transport systems have been built.
The Labour Party has been part of the Government for 12 of the years since 1973.
Doing our best to convince you to do things.
One calculation will produce one result while another will produce a different one. My biggest job is to persuade others that public transport is needed. Thankfully we have succeeded to a certain extent.
I knew the Minister was a socialist all along.
I am afraid I am. People now know that work on public transport is required. Other cities, especially those that were under communist rule, have marvellously constructed public transport networks.
The Minister should not go overboard.
I am delighted the Minister is buying new rail cars. It is not before time. What plans are there to open new lines to deploy them, especially in my area of east Cork?
The land use transportation study is being undertaken by the county council and other local authorities. We are awaiting the result of the study. Is the Deputy a member of the county council?
No. Is the Minister aware that Iarnród Éireann is awaiting the study and cannot proceed with its plans to open new lines until it receives the report? Can she do anything to assist in this matter? It is urgent.
The study is under the aegis of the local authorities, mainly Cork County Council. The Deputy would be best placed to ask it.
It is for the Minister to act.
I will not go after Cork County Council. The Deputy and his colleagues on the council can pursue it. I hope it is an ambitious plan. CIE wants to develop many of the lines in question. The Deputy and I discussed this aspect at a recent meeting. I hope the study will be published soon and that we will be able to act on it.
I welcome the Minister's positive comments. Will she indicate the time schedule for a fully integrated public transport system to be in place?
The Deputy is late attending the House. That matter was addressed.
I will deal with the Deputy in my own good time.
The Deputy has tried that and failed.
As has the Deputy. The Minister is aware of my concerns regarding additional carriages for the DART service. I have undertaken a survey of passengers using the service and I am concerned about capacity on the trains. Will the Minister indicate the time schedule for the required infrastructure to be put in place to accommodate the necessary number of additional DART carriages?
When the Deputy put down a question on this Deputy Stagg commented that good news must be imminent. I replied that Deputy Callely has on many occasions put down searching questions on public transport. A pilot implementation plan on integrated ticketing will be in place at the end of this month. I do not have information on the necessary infrastructural works to accommodate the extra DART carriages but I will get it for the Deputy.
