The House will now hear a two minute statement on a matter appropriate to the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications. I now call on Deputy Nealon to make his two minute statement which will be followed immediately by a two minute reply from the Minister.
Adjournment Debate. - Transport Matter.
First, I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, on her long overdue restoration to Cabinet rank. I wish her well.
The best known rail line in the country is now the Sligo-Dublin line. Unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. Conditions on the service had reached such depths that all the communities, from Sligo to Mullingar, banded together in protest, led by Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Sligo Corporation. Delegations were received by the former Minister for Transport and by Irish Rail. Special funding for track renewal in 1992 was clearly indicated and was confidently expected, but now we find that the demands for proper funding have been thrown back in the face of the protesters.
We have learned that a sum of just £2 million, from a total of £45 million, has been designated for track renewal on the Sligo-Dublin line in 1992. There is nothing very special about that when one considers that in 1991 a total of £2.5 million was allocated before any campaign was started for the line. But when Irish Rail ran short of money they took back £2 million of that and diverted it to more favoured areas. So now, what we are getting for 1992 is just the return of the £2 million taken away the previous year; not one penny for 1992 in its own right. What we are getting will do just seven miles of track renewal this year. At that rate it will take 20 years to do the whole line. In the meantime, trains are limited, for safety reasons, to 40 miles an hour on long stretches and it will be 30 miles per hour next year. That is not the way to run a railway service.
After a great campaign by a community demanding its rights, the Government have fobbed us off with just what was taken away in 1991. It is no use saying that this is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. The Government could have provided the funds if they had the will to do so.
What we are now looking for is a clear, unequivocal plan from the Government, with a timetable, for bringing the Sligo-Dublin rail up to a decent standard. We are not willing to remain second-class passengers for another 20 years. I know the new Minister from Galway will be very sympathetic towards our cause.
Tá mé buíoch den Teachta gur ardaigh sé an cheist seo agus tá súil agam freagra a thabhairt tráthnóna ar chuid de na ceisteanna atá ardaithe aige.
The Exchequer subvention to Córas Iompair Éireann in 1992 in respect of essential public services will amount to £108 million of which approximately £90 million is being allocated to the railways. In addition, the public capital programme for 1992 provides for capital expenditure by CIE of £45 million of which £17.8 million has been allocated for expenditure on railway signalling and other rail related infrastructure. The allocation of these resources to individual capital programmes and projects, including track renewal on the Dublin-Sligo line, is a matter for Irish Rail. However, I have been informed by the chief executive of Irish Rail that the Deputy is correct when he says that the company propose to spend £2 million on upgrading seven miles of track on the Dublin-Sligo line this year and I understand that the relevant works have already commenced.
At the request of Deputy Mattie Brennan I recently met a delegation from Sligo Borough Council and listened to their concerns regarding the future of the Dublin-Sligo line. Senior officials of my Department also met the delegation for a detailed discussion. The delegation was assured, and I would like to take this opportunity to confirm again that there are no proposals before me or my Department for the closure or downgrading of the Sligo line. Indeed, I would like to mention that Sligo rail station has recently been upgraded as part of Irish Rail's Transtrack freight reorganisation and now caters for groupage and sundry freight traffic for the north-west region. Irish Rail intend, with assistance from the EC, to replace and upgrade the existing freight gantry in Sligo. The replacement gantry will be capable of lifting larger containers and shorter freight loading and unloading times will also be possible with this new equipment. These developments will expedite the movement of heavy cargo through Sligo station and thereby facilitate traders in the north-west region.
In relation to the medium and long term future of the Sligo line and, indeed, the mainline network as a whole, a full and urgent strategic study of the future investment needs and resources required for our railway system is underway. Over £1 billion has been put into the railway network since 1980, both by the Exchequer and by CIE from their own resources. We should explore all possibilities for funding future railway investment needs, including that of assistance from EC sources. I have asked that the strategic study, which will, of course, include the Sligo line, should be completed as quickly as possible.
Tá mé buíoch díot, a Cheann Comhairle, as ucht deis a bheith agam teacht anseo le labhairt ar an ócáid seo.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 February 1992.