asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been drawn to reports that British Railways have refused several thousand applications for booking and sailing tickets on the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire service; and, if so, whether he will state if he has satisfied himself that sufficient transportation on this route will be available through the summer period to ensure that tourists, and Irish people coming home on holidays, will not be deprived of transport facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Services.
I am aware of the reports to which the Deputy refers, and I am also aware that British Railways have published a statement challenging the accuracy of these reports. Steps have been taken to obtain full information from British Railways in regard to the matter.
During the past six months there have been discussions about the passenger transport facilities serving the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire route, and the representatives of British Railways who participated in these discussions have been urged to provide the maximum facilities practicable. The summer time-table recently issued provides for a considerable increase in the number of scheduled sailings in each direction, and I have already been informed by British Railways that sufficient sailings will be provided to cope adequately with the traffic offering.
If the reports published to the effect that British Railways have refused applications for sailing tickets in several thousand cases be correct, would the Minister consider informing British Railways that unless they are prepared to provide adequate services, the Government will request Irish Shipping to charter ships for the purpose of ensuring an adequate service during the summer period?
I think British Railways would know as well as I do that Irish Shipping could not charter vessels, but in any event the reports in the Press in regard to applications for sailing tickets relate to one week and it is obvious that a very large number of people would like to travel in the week immediately preceding the bank holiday. It just would not be possible to accommodate in that one week all those who might like to travel at that time. The number of sailing tickets has been increased and I understand that special sailings will be provided to the limit practicable, but there is a limit and always will be for all traffic at any one period. It is to be assumed that if there are people who cannot get accommodation in that week immediately preceding the bank holiday they can get accommodation at other periods.
I am not raising this matter in any controversial spirit, but I am sure the Minister is aware of the general impression there is that British Railways do not provide an adequate service. Does the Minister not consider that the failure of British Railways to provide an adequate service damages the tourist traffic very considerably? If they refuse to carry passengers who want to spend their holidays here is reduces the income which the hotel keepers and the people interested in the tourist trade could secure if those people were provided with transport.
The Deputy may not be aware that I presided last autumn over a conference of all the parties interested in transport facilities for the tourist trade. Every aspect of this question was discussed at that conference, and the outcome was that British Railways undertook to provide additional sailings this summer provided the Government here undertook to make certain changes in the facilities at Carlisle pier. Those changes are being made, and the British Railways time-table for this year shows a very substantial increase in the number of sailings.
I know that the Minister has done everything he can in this matter and I appreciate his attitude. But am I right in thinking that the British Railways attitude in regard to the Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire service is that they are conferring a favour on this country by providing the service which they should provide in the summer period? They regard it as a favour rather than as part of their obligation as a transport company.
I would not say that would be a favourable description. The service is quite a profitable one, and British Railways are, I am sure, very conscious of that fact. They experienced difficulty in providing additional ships of that character for a limited period, but undertook to make the maximum number of ships available, and to utilise these ships as often as possible, which necessitated certain changes in the facilities for turning the ships around.