I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. The proposed closure of the freight yard at Mallow railway station will have serious economic and environmental implications for Mallow and the north Cork area. The freight yard has been a long established part of Mallow, providing employment and valuable services to industry in the area.
The plan to close the yard must be seen against the background of the desire by Irish Rail to get rid of the bulk of its freight business. As far back as 2001, there were reports that Irish Rail was considering proposals to exit from the bulk of its rail freight business, but the public and political reaction compelled the company to climb down. However, since then it appears that there has been a gradual downgrading of the freight service by stealth. Individual services have been quietly closed down while freight is being increasingly forced off the rail system on to the roads.
This trend appears to be the case with Mallow freight yard. Figures provided to me suggest that during 2002, some 1,464 wagons of freight passed through Mallow freight yard, generating revenue of more than €350,000. The closure of the yard will create serious difficulties for existing industrial users and may make it difficult to attract industry to the region.
Apart from the economic issues, the transfer of this level of freight to the overcrowded road network will have major environmental implications. It is unbelievable that at a time when there is so much public concern about the number of accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and the damage they are causing to the environment, Irish Rail should be planning to put more lorries on to the roads. The closure of Mallow freight yard would result in hundreds of additional lorry journeys, many through small towns and villages.
It is difficult to believe that such a development should be considered given the general acceptance of the need to reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles on the roads. A European Union White Paper, published in 2001, emphasised the need to transfer more freight on to environmentally friendly forms of transport, such as rail. Following a number of horrific accidents in Switzerland, serious consideration is being given to banning freight from the road system.
This move may save Irish Rail a small amount of money, but the financial and social cost to the community in terms of damage to the road and built environment will be high. The Munster area is already facing a significant increase in the number of heavy goods vehicles on the roads, especially during the sugar beet season. Following the collapse of the Cahir viaduct last week on the Limerick Junction-Wexford line, this will continue until it is reopened, which will take at least six months.
It has been suggested to me that the existing crane at Mallow freight yard is inadequate. I am advised that is not the case. I understand a fork lift truck is available in Tralee that could be easily transferred to Mallow. I urge the Minister of State to ask Irish Rail to reconsider this proposal in view of the economic and environmental implications.
