asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, having regard to the need to implement a long term capital programme of railway modernisation and improvement, the Government will now indicate their intentions regarding railways over the next twenty years and state the steps which will be taken to make available to CIE the money necessary to undertake the required work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Railway Modernisation.
216.
Government policy in relation to the railways was outlined by my predecessor during the course of his speech on the Second Stage of the Transport Bill 1964, Parliamentary Debates Vol. 209, cols. 1735 to 1763, in which he stated that the Government had decided, after very full and careful consideration, to preserve the railway system subject to such further concentration and reorganisation as might prove practicable and desirable. This continues to be the Government's policy in relation to the railways.
Financial assistance for capital expenditure on the railways is provided by way of Exchequer capital advances to CIE under section 4 of the Transport Act, 1964 and I hope to introduce legislation shortly to extend the limit of £6 million on capital advances to the board imposed by that section. Deputies will then have the opportunity of debating the Government's policy in relation to the railways.