Vol. 542 No. 3
8 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the additional carrying capacity she intends to provide on inter-city mainline routes under the national development plan; the timescale involved; the projected costing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24321/01]
The national development plan includes a provision of £150 million for the purchase of 20 new mainline carriages, the upgrading of stations and the provision of new railway plant and equipment. In addition, 58 diesel rail cars, at a cost of approximately £90 million, are on order for delivery in 2002. These rail cars have the facility of serving both mainline and outer suburban services. Irish Rail also intends funding an additional 22 rail cars from its own resources.
I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it is now also considering the purchase of some additional carriages over and above those provided for in the national development plan. Iarnród Éireann further informs me that the new rolling stock on order will provide additional capacity as well as replace some older rolling stock.
Does the Minister agree that many of these carriages are more than 30 years old and in urgent need of replacement? Does she also agree that the capacity on the mainline routes leaves much to be desired, that trains are very often overcrowded and that at times Iarnród Éireann cannot cope with the demand? Has Iarnród Éireann asked the Minister or her Department for any funding and, if so, how much?
The Estimates are being prepared with the Minister for Finance and it is during that procedure that demands will be talked through. In that context I will be talking only to my colleague, Deputy McCreevy.
I agree that busy services are often very crowded. That is a result of people's wish to get off crowded roads and use public transport. As I said to Deputy Jim Higgins earlier, the transition period is much longer than one might have thought. However, my job is to bring the infrastructure on stream. A total of 80 new diesel multiple units are on order for delivery in 2002, of which it is intended that 58 will be EU-NDP funded, while the balance of 22 will be funded from Iarnród Éireann's resources.
How long does it take to deliver these carriages once they have been ordered? How many orders have been placed to date?
It takes two to three years. It is not a case of going to a big garage and plucking trains or carriages off the shelf. Twenty new mainline carriages and 58 diesel rail cars are already on order for delivery in 2002. There will be funding for 22 more, and a total of 80 DMUs are on order for delivery in 2002.
What is a DMU?
A diesel multiple unit.
What is a diesel multiple unit?
A multiple unit is a multiple unit.
What is it?
It is a method of getting on public transport and getting to one's destination.
The Minister does not know.
If the Deputy does not know what diesel is, I cannot help him. He must be much worse than I thought, given that he is a teacher.
The Minister does not have a clue. She is all at sea.
No. We are on the train.
Would the Minister join me in welcoming the demand for public transport that is now apparent? Given her conversion of late to public transport, does she agree that it is also important that public transport be safe, that the present packed conditions on suburban and weekend mainline trains are extremely dangerous and that if an accident were to occur in such packed conditions, there would be multiple fatalities which would not occur if the trains were not so packed? When exactly can we expect to have on the railway tracks that are now being upgraded sufficient carriages to carry the numbers of the public who want to use them? We now know there is a demand, even in bad conditions.
Regarding the 80 cars being delivered next year, what will be the split between suburban and mainline services? What will be the additional capacity after subtracting the replacement carriages? Does the Minister agree that the service currently provided at weekends on the mainline service is similar to hauling cattle around the country? Does she agree that her Department's inspectorate would prosecute drivers if this was happening on main roads, but is allowing it to happen in relation to Iarnród Éireann?
(Mayo): Buses have a maximum load factor which is binding and mandatory, and which it is an offence to breach. In the case of trains, there is no maximum number and the result is that there are so many people crowded onto the Westport and Dundalk-Drogheda trains that they resemble the Calcutta express. This is a tragedy waiting to happen. Would the Minister, therefore, consider making an order restricting the number of passengers who can be carried in a railway carriage or wagon?
Cattle lorries have restrictions.
I can identify, from experience, with the conditions on the Dundalk-Drogheda train. Does the Minister accept that more than carriages are needed to provide capacity, that we also need track capacity in which investment is long overdue? Is there any plan to provide increased track capacity? When might this come on stream, particularly in the Howth Junction and Dublin city centre area, which has to cope with the various radial routes coming into Dublin? Will the Minister say whether it is acceptable to her that no additional track capacity has been provided since Ireland achieved independence? The opposite has happened. We have been reducing track capacity.
I would prefer to answer each Deputy individually. However, that is up to the Chair.
That is what the rules state.
If I applied Standing Orders strictly, the three Deputies would not have been able to ask questions. I am trying to oblige them.
It would just be easier. In reply to Deputy Stagg, I am not a late convert to public transport. When I entered government I identified it as an area that would require money and went about getting it. It had been neglected by successive Governments of all political persuasions over many years. There is no doubt about that. We are trying in a short time to compensate for the legacy of absolutely no investment.
The Green Party would not have neglected it.
Is the Green Party going to be in government?
I look forward to it.
