Last night I was speaking about the Estimate for CIE. I would like to take this opportunity again to refute the statement by Deputy Bruton in relation to the contribution being made by the taxpayers to the running of CIE. Last night Deputy Bruton stated that the first £100 paid by the average family now goes to maintain CIE. I request Deputy Bruton to substantiate that statement or withdraw this unfair attack on the management and staff of CIE, a company who are giving good employment to their 16,600 employees—that was the number in December 1977 according to their annual report. Deputy Bruton does not seem to take into account the contribution of £26 million in payment to the State by the employees of CIE and also the £28.3 million spent on the purchase of goods of Irish origin. Those figures are stated in the annual report of 1977 and surely Deputy Bruton must take those into account when making his allegations in relation to income tax contribution. He has cast an unfair slur on the workers of CIE who have given loyal and faithful service to the country. They are all employees of CIE through the Department and they should be commended for their efforts over the years. They are working in a very difficult area and their contribution should be recognised. They are in an area which is providing a service which the public require and I would be very upset at any curtailment of the services being provided. The public are getting a good return for their investment, and I appeal to the Minister to ensure that a level of contribution and support for CIE will be maintained which will ensure that they will provide not only stable employment for their employees but also the improvement and continuation of their service to the public.
It should be noted also that the staff of CIE were reduced by 3,400 between May 1975 and December 1977. Part of that time was during our period in office but the greater part of it was during the term of the Coalition Government. That reduction in the staff probably was necessary, but it is regrettable because we should be in the area of job creation and CIE can play their part in the creation and provision of employment.
In relation to the purchase of goods of Irish origin by CIE, the management of the company should be always on the alert to ensure that they will continue this policy of buying Irish. Recently in one of their dining cars on the route to Roscommon I found that some of the items supplied were not purchased in Ireland. This matter should be investigated by the Department. I will give the Minister further details and he should request the purchasing officers of CIE to ensure that only Irish products are provided on the national railway and on the national transport service generally.
I have been seeking to obtain the up-to-date annual report of CIE and I understand that the latest annual report available is that for 1977. As this is 1979 the 1978 report should have been issued by now, and I wonder what is the reason that this report is so late in coming out. Any company should have their annual report issued early and on time. I have failed to obtain a copy of the annual report for 1979. I understand from the Oireachtas Library that it has not been issued and is not available. If I had that report I would be able to make a more accurate contribution to this debate from figures which would then be available to me.
To come back to another point I made last night in relation to the transportation of goods for industry, it is vitally important that industries be made aware of the excellent services available in CIE for the transport of freight to different locations throughout Ireland. The IDA should play a part in encouraging the carriage of goods on the rail services, thus helping to eliminate some of the very heavy traffic which is now using the inadequate roads of Ireland to transport goods from the ports in Dublin and other parts to industry throughout Ireland, particularly in the west. A very serious look should be taken at the situation regarding transport of certain products to the Asahi plant in Killala, Mayo. We have an opportunity now to review our safety precautions and we want to ensure that the near tragedy which occurred in Canada would not and could not occur here in Ireland. One product transport is extremely dangerous and CIE management should take every precaution in relation to the transportation of this chemical to the Asahi plant.
With regard to the hotel section of CIE, the Coalition Government took a retrograde step by closing so many of their fine hotels. The CIE hotels at Sligo, Mulranny, Bundoran and Kenmare were closed but there was an opportunity to develop them. CIE are a State company involving tourism and they should not have been allowed to sell them. The Coalition Government were supposed to have many so-called Socialists in their ranks and I fail to understand how Socialist Ministers in the Coalition Government could have allowed CIE to sell four of their hotels. The returns from the sales were so little that it should be obvious that a very bad decision was taken. I feel that under a Fianna Fáil Government such a decision would not have been taken. It deprived many people of good employment.
The situation in relation to the Russell Court Hotel in Belfast is still creating difficulties for CIE. It is costing approximately £360,000 to pay the interest on the original loan. I understand they have difficulty in converting it to an office block because of the grants they were paid by the Northern Ireland authorities. I also understand CIE are awaiting a decision from the Government about the future of this particular building in Belfast, which I hope at some stage can be used again as an hotel. It is closed at the moment. It was damaged by bombing in 1974 and after it was re-opened it was bombed a second time. This hotel was built at a time when there was an improvement in the situation in the North and it would have made a contribution to the financial affairs of CIE if everything had worked out well.
With regard to the increased subvention required by CIE it is worth pointing out that the increase in oil costs alone was over £5 million and the increase in labour costs not provided for in the original Estimate amounted to over £9 million. This would take into account the National Understanding which CIE are obliged to honour. The Government must provide a subvention to ensure that the employees of CIE are given the full benefit of the National Understanding. The shortfall in the anticipated revenue amounts to nearly £4 million, which has also created difficulties for CIE and resulted in them having to come before the Oireachtas for a further subvention.
What would be the actual saving to the State if much of the transportation on the public roads was eliminated? If we had not the services of CIE the total fuel bill for the State would be much larger. This should be taken into consideration when the public are assessing the quality of the services provided by CIE. They are playing a major contribution in the reduction of our oil imports and they should be commended for this. I believe that in the future CIE rail services will be availed of by more of the public. A retrograde step was taken some years ago in closing down many of our rail services, particularly in parts of my constituency in County Leitrim, where the rail service was completely removed. The people who made that decision had little foresight. That railway could provide an excellent service to County Leitrim and would assist in the provision of industry in that part of my constituency, which requires every assistance the State can give.
With regard to Bord Fáilte I would like to congratulate the management and directors of that organisation for their contribution in earning £400 million this year as against £376 million in 1978. This is a tremendous success for Bord Fáilte, when one takes into account the effects of the postal strike and the oil and petrol shortage this year. It is also a success for the Minister who spearheaded the drive for further tourists in England, Germany and the Netherlands. Tourism is a major earner, and Bord Fáilte are an efficient organisation. I understand that Bord Fáilte have commissioned a special film on the Pope's historic visit here. They will be using this for further promotion, which is a very realistic approach to the visit of the Pope. Bord Fáilte will now be promoting places like County Mayo, Clonmacnoise and other historic locations visited by the Pope. This will play a major contribution in the tourist drive in the eighties. I feel that during that time we will see a further marked improvement in the revenue earned by Bord Fáilte.
The new proposals announced by Bord Fáilte in relation to the hotel industry are very welcome. I look forward to their contribution to my constituency to ensure that the hoteliers in Roscommon and Leitrim obtain support for the expansion of their present facilities, which they are anxious to go ahead with. It is appropriate to compliment the work done by the regional tourism organisations, particuarly the Midland Regional Tourism Organisation, which covers part of my constituency, and the North Eastern Tourist Organisation, which covers the Leitrim part of my constituency. Those organisations are playing a very positive role in the promotion and development of tourism in County Roscommon and County Leitrim.
The grants for the development of the tourism information offices and for local authority amenity improvements schemes are very welcome. Hopefully, there will be a continuance of the necessary financial support for local authorities to help them improve tourism facilities. I take this opportunity of appealing to the Midland Regional Tourism Organisation to ensure that areas such as Portrun in Roscommon and other such areas receive further assistance in order to ensure the expansion of the existing facilities both for the Irish tourist and for the tourist from abroad, because tourism is not merely a matter of provision of facilities for people from abroad. We must cater, too, for our own tourists. The contribution that Bord Fáilte have been making in this regard is to be highly commended. I am confident that everyone here will support the extra grant to the board so that they may be able to continue the good work they are doing. We are fortunate that there is such a good working relationship between the board and the Department of Tourism and Transport. The Minister has played a very important role in regard to the number of tourists who visited Ireland this year. His quick action in relation to the issuing of fuel vouchers earlier in the year was a big factor in the success of the tourism industry. The voucher system worked very well. During the fuel crisis the Minister was never out of touch with the situation. He went on BBC television and other media to explain the situation here and to reassure the many tourists who intended spending their holidays here.
I regard as totally unfair the attacks on CIE by members of Fine Gael whose attitude on this occasion cannot be very encouraging to the management and staff of that company in carrying out their work. It is too easy for politicians to knock an organisation such as CIE but recognition should be given to the important part that the company are playing in the wellbeing and development of this State. On an occasion such as this we should not miss the opportunity of paying tribute to the management and staff of CIE both at local and central level. I have the highest regard for CIE staff in my constituency, from station masters to the people who drive the buses and also those people involved in the school transport system. These are a dedicated bunch of people who are working in very difficult circumstances but who never fail to assist in any way possible those people who avail of the transport services.
The standard of maintenance at railway stations is very high. This situation is appreciated by the public who, of course, are entitled to the best possible services and standards. I would appeal to the Minister, though, to do something about the improvement of the rolling stock on the western route because we in the west should have a service equal to the service being provided in any other part of the country. From my contacts both with the Minister and with CIE I am aware that usage of the rail services in that area has increased by 30 per cent. That is a situation that should be recognised. It warrants the provision of additional funds for the rail services in that area. I have been informed by CIE that they are awaiting a decision from the Department in relation to the rolling stock situation on the western route. In the circumstances I would appeal to the Minister to give the matter his immediate attention.
There is a need, too, for a further service from Westport, leaving, say, at about 10 a.m. and reaching Roscommon at about 12 noon, with another train leaving Heuston Station at about 8 o'clock each evening. The service on the western route was curtailed during the time of the Coalition Government but I am confident that the situation will be rectified by this administration.
I congratulate the Minister on the excellent work he is doing in the Department. Now that his responsibility in relation to Posts and Telegraphs is to be assumed largely by another body, he will have all the more time for concentrating on his Tourism and Transport portfolio and, consequently, for expanding this very important industry.
Deputy Bruton was critical of the Minister in regard to his commissioning a report into the affairs of CIE but it is only right and proper that the Minister would seek the advice of the best possible consultants in regard to the development of the company's services. However, Deputy Bruton failed to point out that during the Coalition's term in office, CIE commissioned the consultants Martin and Voorhees Associates and Henderson, Hughes and Busby to undertake jointly a study of the southwest rail corridor. According to the company's annual report for 1976, the objective of this study was to assess the best long-term investment policy for the Dublin-Cork and Limerick-Limerick Junction railway lines taking account of policy for national and regional development. On page 9 of the report we read that:
It was designed to examine such issues as electrification, train frequency, speed, phasing of improvement, the future role of the railway and the impact of rail investment on other transport modes. It will have particular regard to the influence of changes in population, fuel costs and fare levels.
Perhaps the Minister will be able to let us know the outcome of the investigation, an investigation which must have some bearing on the development of those aspects of CIE services.
It is not for me as a Deputy from the west to concern myself too much with the transport situation in Dublin except to point out that traffic hold-ups in Dublin affect travellers to the west in so far as they may spend an hour travelling from the city centre to Heuston Station. Something must be done about the situation in Dublin. I understand that there is to be an experiment in the Parliament Street area in respect of bus clearways. Perhaps this is the sort of development that will help solve the congestion in the city. If the experiment proves successful I expect that it will be extended to other parts of Dublin and an increased number of people will avail of the bus service. At the moment the service is inadequate and it is frustrating for both the travellers and the management of CIE. I feel sure that when the Minister sees the result of the first experiment he will consider, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, a further expansion of this proposal. It is a worthwhile proposal and it could ensure the viability of the service in Dublin.
In conclusion I congratulate CIE on their activities. Unfortunately they are not making money but if the rail lines could be taken into account on a different accounting system and maintained directly out of State funds without CIE having to come before the Oireachtas for extra subventions then the real picture of CIE could be clearly shown. CIE should be given encouragement. I know the Minister is giving encouragement and leadership to CIE. I hope that this will continue so that in the years ahead we will see a true picture of CIE and will have a service which will be second to none. We have a national transport service which we should be proud of and we should do everything in our power to encourage it.