I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together.
The primary duty of CIÉ and its subsidiary companies as set out in Section 7 of the Transport Act 1958 and Section 8 of the Transport (Re-organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act 1986 is to provide a reasonable, efficient and economical transport service having regard to their social role. Decisions in relation to the acquisition, optimal use and disposal of property in pursuit of these statutory objectives and in relation to the use of property no longer required in full for its statutory duties are matters for CIÉ. In the late 1990's CIÉ were asked, by the then Minister for Public Enterprise, to ensure that all assets surplus to public transport requirements were disposed of to help fund CIÉ's growing capital investment programme.
In response CIÉ reviewed its property holdings and as part of its ongoing management of these holdings seeks to derive maximum value from their use, including development and sale, for the benefit of public transport, taking account of existing and future needs.