asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in view of the complaints of the Sligo Chamber of Commerce regarding the conditions of railway carriages in use on the Sligo-Dublin service, he will introduce proposals for legislation to provide for periodic inspection of railway carriages with a view to ensuring that such carriages are kept in a clean and comfortable state, and are properly heated, and further, that dining carriages be provided on all long distance services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inspection of Railway Carriages.
I am informed by the Great Southern Railways Company that Pullman cars were withdrawn in November last from the Mullingar-Sligo section, as these cars, which include restaurant facilities, were not appreciably availed of. I understand that the Sligo Chamber of Commerce have approached the company on the matter referred to, and anticipate that the company will be anxious to investigate any complaints. I am not aware that there are grounds for considering legislation such as that suggested.
Has any information been drawn under the Minister's personal notice as to the condition of the carriages provided on the Mullingar-Sligo division of the line? There is no doubt that the travelling accommodation provided for travellers on that line is a public scandal, and has been the subject of repeated representation to the traffic department of the Railway Company. In view of the fact that the railway has now a monopoly, does the Minister not think that he ought to take action himself, either by way of representation, or such other action as may be necessary, to secure a reasonably adequate service for people travelling on that part of the line?
I have not received any complaints from any source concerning the condition of the carriages on that section of the line.
Will the Minister ask the traffic department of the company whether it is true that numerous complaints have reached them? If he does, I think he will find that an immense number of complaints have reached them. In that connection, I suggest that he should bear in mind that the average travelling public do not care to bother the Minister about details of the condition of the railway carriages, and therefore complaints may not be addressed to him. I therefore ask him if he will apply to the management of the Railway Company so that he may get all the complaints in one lump and be spared the annoyance of repeated individual communications.