asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware that Coras Iompair Éireann has declared its intention of suspending all railway services in County Monaghan; and whether this proposal will be suspended pending adequate enquiry into the essential requirements of the people of County Monaghan for transport service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monaghan Rail Services.
I am aware that C.I.E. have recently published notice of the termination as from 1st January, 1960, of train services on railway lines in Co. Monaghan.
The Transport Act, 1958, empowers C.I.E. to terminate any particular train service provided they are satisfied that its operation is uneconomic and that there is no prospect of its continued operation being economic within a reasonable period. The Act also imposes on the Board of C.I.E. the general obligation to conduct the undertaking so as to eliminate losses by 31st March, 1964.
Under the Act I have no function in regard to the termination of train services by C.I.E.
It is open to the Deputy or any other persons or bodies concerned to make representations to C.I.E. during the period of notice which C.I.E. have given in accordance with statutory requirements.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, while he may have no duty under the statute referred to, surely he has a duty as Minister for Transport to satisfy himself that an entire county is not deprived of all rail services, passenger and freight, without adequate alternative provision being made, bearing in mind that the transfer of a volume of work of such a character on to the roads of the county may involve the ratepayers of the county in staggering burdens in relation to road repair? Apart from the actual duties referred to under the statute, has the Minister not a general duty to ensure that transport facilities in any given area in the country will be maintained at a tolerable minimum?
As the Deputy well knows, even before the passing of this Act, there were no passenger services on these lines except for occasional excursions. There was a freight service and C.I.E. have stated that they are supplying substitute lorry services to meet the demand. In reply to the Deputy's further submission, I intend to leave to C.I.E. responsibility for closing lines. I intend to have only a general supervisory responsibility over the operations of C.I.E. and to watch its progress from year to year. I definitely envisage that, if the company is to pay its way, the Board will be bound to pay attention to the Act under which it was directed, by the Deputies of this House, to close railway lines the operation of which are found to be uneconomic.
Acknowledging the duty and obligations of C.I.E. under the Act referred to, would the Minister have no responsibility (1) to satisfy himself that the people of an entire county have adequate transport facilities; and (2) that the provision of alternative adequate transport facilities by C.I.E. do not throw an intolerable burden on the ratepayers of the county concerned as a result of over-use of the roads? It does not seem to be fair to transfer any prospective loss on that section of the railway off the back of the country at large and unload the whole of it on to the ratepayers of County Monaghan.
All that was examined in connection with the passing of the Transport Act of 1958. Naturally I and the Government collectively have a general responsibility for watching the effect of the 1958 Act on all sections of the community and on the economy generally. I certainly do not intend to interfere with the closing of individual railway lines. I intend to watch the general picture unfolding and to examine the result of the general trend over the next two or three years. The Deputy will understand that it is quite impossible for me to set down on one side of the page the things I will not do and on the other side the things I can do. He will understand that I will not interfere with the operations of C.I.E. in the closing of a particular railway line. I have to look at the picture in a much broader way and in regard to a much longer period.
I admit there are several lines, but I assume the Minister will have regard to the position in the whole of County Monaghan.
As far as I can, I have made the position clear to the Deputy.