Ivan Yates
Ceist:73 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the likely contracts of the proposed Government service contracts in CIE and subsidiaries; and when these will be published. [15063/97]
Written Answers. - Public Service Contracts.
My Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and Córas Iompair Éireann, is in the process of developing public service contracts to replace the existing global Exchequer subvention paid annually to Córas Iompair Éireann in respect of the provision by it of socially necessary services which do not yield a commercial return.
The purpose of this new policy is to place the provision of Exchequer support for CIE on a more transparent, closely focused and results oriented basis, in line with best international practice and with EU policy on State support for public transport services.
The contracts will mean that the payments made by the Exchequer to Córas Iompair Éireann will be identified with the provision of specific services. The contracts will, in broad terms, specify the quantity and quality of services to be provided by CIE. They will also set out clear performance standards for these services and allow for performance measurement.
As the details of the contracts are currently the subject of discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and Córas Iompair Éireann I am not yet in a position to go into detail as to their content. However, in broad terms, it is proposed that the new public service contracts arrangement will be made up of five contracts dealing with the provision of rail infrastructure; mainline rail passenger and freight services; DART and suburban commuter rail services to and from Dublin; certain bus services outside the Greater Dublin Area; certain bus services in the Greater Dublin Area.
It is my objective to introduce the contracts for the 1998 financial year and they will be published upon their introduction.