Vol. 538 No. 4
31 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will institute a feasibility study into the possibility of re-opening the existing Claremorris to Galway rail line for passenger services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18123/01]
Decisions on the re-opening of individual railway lines are matters for the board and management of CIE. I understand from CIE that it has no plans to carry out a feasibility study into the re-opening of the Claremorris to Athenry rail line as the anticipated level of passenger carryings relative to the capital and operating costs would not justify such a service. Passenger services on the line were closed in 1976 and main freight traffic ceased in 1987. Due to the lack of patronage, meaning customers, and in the absence of major development along the rail corridor, I am informed that the re-introduction of passenger services is unlikely to be viable.
The rail investment programme currently being implemented by Iarnród Éireann, as part of the national development plan, is the largest investment ever made in Ireland's railways. However, these resources are limited and must be utilised so that the best value for money is achieved for the public. Therefore, the investment programme is being implemented in a prioritised manner on the basis of rail safety, customer demand and expected economic return.
(Mayo): In the absence of a feasibility study, how can somebody say the anticipated level of demand would not justify a feasibility study? That is an illogical contradiction. How can one say the proposition is unlikely to be viable unless a feasibility study is commissioned? That is the purpose of a feasibility study – to establish the likelihood of viability.
This issue arises in many areas, not just in relation to the Claremorris to Athenry line. For example, work has commenced on redeveloping Monasterevan station in County Kildare as a commuter station in response to the substantial housing development in that area which makes it a very viable proposition for rail traffic. In the case of the Claremorris to Athenry line, the CIE position is that there are no major housing developments along the rail corridor to utilise such a service.
Is the Minister aware of the Labour Party's spatial plan, which includes the Sligo-Claremorris-Galway line as an objective? While the Minister may say she is not responsible for individual lines, has she no plan for the extension of the railway system comparable to the plan for road development? Anybody who knows the area as well as Deputy Jim Higgins and I, would be aware of the huge volume of traffic on the roads from Claremorris to Castlebar and Galway, which could be served by train.
(Mayo): It has increased enormously in the past five years.
I know the area in a general sense, without having travelled there very often. Rail safety was a priority when this Government came into office. The Government has allocated £500 million of taxpayers' money in response to that need.
The Government is now four years in office and has done nothing on that issue.
The condition in which the rail lines were left by successive Governments was just criminal. To quote Seán O'Casey, it was a state of chassis.
Fianna Fáil has been in power most of the time since 1932.
The Labour Party had its share of responsibility in the past 25 years, during which none of the parties in Government tackled the railways issue effectively. I am sure Deputy Higgins would agree that safety must be the first consideration. The Government decided to invest initially in upgrading the existing rail track. The rolling stock will come next and then we will look at the extension of rail lines.
(Mayo): I put it to the Minister that the reply which has been given is absolutely crazy. As both Deputy Stagg and I know – and as CIE could testify if it knew what is happening on the ground – there are hundreds of cars travelling from the south Mayo area to Galway each morning, with people working in offices, shops, factories and hospitals. Is the Minister aware that there is a five mile log-jam of cars at 8 a.m. each morning? It used to stretch to Ballybrit, then to Castlegar and now to Claregalway. The cars are bumper to bumper every morning and evening. I ask the Minister to seriously address the problem in the catchment area of Claremorris, Tuam and Athenry. What is needed is political will. Fianna Fáil backbenchers and candidates have been telling Jim Fahy of RTE that the Minister is going to commission a feasibility study. I can send the footage to the Minister. I urge the Minister to intervene in this matter. Has she any estimate of the cost of a feasibility study?
Before the Minister replies, I appeal to Deputies, and Ministers replying, to stay within the one minute limit. It is grossly unfair to take two minutes asking three or four questions, with the result that the allotted time of six minutes is concluded.
Is it one minute for all?
In Priority Question time, there are two minutes for the initial reply, then Members can ask questions for as long as they like and the Minister can take as long as she likes to reply. In ordinary questions, two minutes are allowed for the initial reply, one minute for a supplementary and one minute for a reply.
I have not got a costing for a feasibility study. I have a costing for the 33 mile section from Claremorris to Athenry. At today's prices, an investment of about £20 million would be required to restore passenger services.
(Mayo): That is very good value.
It seems so. When I read that note – I had asked how much it would cost if it was to be done – it was not on the original—
(Mayo): Does it say 33 miles?
It gives the Claremorris to Athenry section as 33 miles, from where I presume it would pick up the main line. An investment of about £20 million would be required to restore passenger services, excluding rolling stock – it is for the track only.
That would not build even one by-pass road.
