asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the Great Southern Railways Company are about to discontinue the Broadstone as a passenger station; that such closing down will cause considerable inconvenience to passengers from the west of Ireland and serious depreciation to the value of all property in the vicinity of that station, as well as creating much unemployment among railway workers, and if he will make representations to the company to have the service continued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Broadstone Station.
I understand that the Great Southern Railways Company contemplate the closing of Broadstone Station for passenger traffic early in the New Year, in order to use the site mainly for the accommodation, construction and maintenance of the company's road transport vehicles.
As regards the remainder of the question, I have no power to interfere with the exercise of the company's discretion as to the steps which they consider necessary, in this instance, in order to place the undertaking on an economic basis.
The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854, imposes an obligation on the company to afford all reasonable facilities for traffic, and whether the closing of Broadstone Station would be a violation of such obligation is a matter to be determined by the Railway Tribunal on application or submission by interested parties.
Can the Minister tell us how many stations have been closed down, how many miles of railway lines have been taken up and how many railway men have been put out of employment since Fianna Fáil got into power?
That is a separate question.