Vol. 548 No. 2
39 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the Government's policy in relation to Córas Iompair Éireann and Iarnród Éireann's business plan for the rail freight sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4395/02]
I have been assured by the chairman that CIE has no intention of closing down any part of the rail network. This is in line with a Government decision of March 1999.
A business strategy in relation to rail freight was submitted to the board of CIE for consideration. Having considered the business strategy, I have been advised that the board decided that Iarnród Éireann should continue to operate rail freight services and investment was approved by the board to provide freight handling facilities in the North Wall area in Dublin.
On 28 January 2002 I announced I would shortly commission a strategic rail study. This is intended to provide a blueprint for the future development of the railways for the next 20 years. The study will examine both passenger and freight operations. It is envisaged that this study will provide a strategic framework for future Government decisions on rail development and will identify priorities for investment.
I have also been advised that where freight only lines have recently lost their traffic to road transport, Iarnród Éireann continues to maintain these lines in working order, in the event of freight business returning to them. Iarnród Éireann informs me that in the particular case of the Foynes line, work is being done by Limerick County Council on a level crossing at Foynes harbour. While this work is being carried out, for safety reasons, control of the line has been placed with the permanent way inspector at Limerick. In the case of the Ennis/Athenry/Claremorris line, maintenance work is currently being undertaken along the route and again control of the line rests with the permanent way inspector responsible for the area. The future development of this route will be considered as part of the strategic rail study I mentioned earlier.
I thank the Minister for a great deal of information I did not seek.
I know. There are other questions.
I know. They cannot be grouped because it is a priority question. On the last occasion we raised this issue with the Minister we referred to the Kingscourt line. It was either closed or mothballed but it is no longer in use. We pointed out our concern that 48% of the total freight carried by CIE is being transferred to the roads. Despite the Minister's assurances to the House, which I accept were genuine, will she accept that CIE or Iarnród Éireann has by stealth implemented its original policy, ensuring through new contracts to their customers for freight that the customers will no longer use rail? As a result, the cement facility in Wexford station, which has been there for 50 years, has been closed down.
I am not sure the Minister is getting the full story with regard to the Limerick to Foynes line. Arising from the Foynes decision, does the Minister agree that it will be impossible for the Foynes port development that is planned to go ahead? Is the Minister aware that since she said the policy of carrying freight on rail would continue, CIE and Iarnród Éireann have greatly reduced the volume of freight carried by rail? The specific example is Wexford where, after 50 years, 300 tonnes of cement per week will now be moved by road rather than by rail.
I will have to find out the exact situation with regard to Wexford. I do not have full details on it. I accept I made a public statement in the Dáil and that my statement was followed up by the Taoiseach a week later in answer to a question on the Order of Business. I said it was preferable to have bulk goods carried by rail than having them carried on the road, simply because of the traffic and the fact that rail travel keeps such goods off the public roads and carries them safely.
I can only go on the information I receive. With regard to the Foynes line, work is being done by Limerick County Council on a level crossing at Foynes harbour. I have met the chairman of CIE on this issue and I told him that, while there was no Cabinet decision on the matter because it was not brought to Cabinet, there was general agreement that it is better to carry goods by rail than by road. I told him that was my opinion.
The Minister said on the last occasion when we raised the issue of State incentives, which are the norm in other European countries to encourage freighters to move from road to rail, that an amount of money was provided to CIE which it could use as it wished. Would she agree that the amount required to provide the infrastructure and to provide such encouragement could be taken and ring-fenced for that purpose from that subsidy? Will she speak to Iarnród Éireann about that and prevent the 1.25 million tonnes of freight being moved from the rail lines to the road system, which is incapable of taking that freight?
Certainly, I will say it to the chairman when I next meet him. I have asked officials in my Department to find out the position regarding freight on railways in Europe and if a direct subsidy is given to underpin freight carriage as distinct from passenger carriage.
I have a document on it which I can pass to the Minister.
Thank you.
